Zothique/Rock of Bral:Back Page Article in the Rolling Stone------------------------------------------------Pirate Siting Near Bral

The free trader The Wandering Nancy reported an encounter with a pirate vessel within a halfday travel from Bral. The vessel was a Mediumsized Dirigible powered by Steam Propellersand equipped with a Heavy Bombard. The Wandering Nancy was able to out run the pirate but sustained light damage from a long range hit from the pirate. Theencounter was reported to the Bralian Navyupon arrival at Bral, and a patrol was immediatelydispatched to the location of the encounter.The patrol returned this morning reporting nosign of the pirate.------------------------------------------------

They have dinner at the Golden Helm with The Juggler.She gives them some insight on what to expect at theauction explaning the factions, etc.

Gerag is suspiscious of The Juggler and tells Ekkieto take her out if she betrays them in any way.

They go to the auction at The Scrabble which is a warehouseclose to the docks. The party asks why the Bralianauthorities are not all over this, and The Juggler saysit is likely that the owner of the Warehouse is paying offthe authorities for its use in illicit activities.Outside the Warehouse there are some halflings who checktheir invitation and decide that The Juggler and her entourageof six, three small people, and one big is OK.

Within their weapons are collected by a bunch of halflingsmanning a make shift desk. They see Enk, a human nervouslyhovering over the halflings, who spies out a dagger thatSal was trying to hold out. Many of the pirates andthieves seem to know him. As the party takes theirseats, Sal tells Wilhelm to explore.

Rayim of the Trading Company is there. He is with a floozy,and two orc body guards. He says hello to the party, buysthem a drink, telling them he is on an expense account. Heis not a serious bidder, dropping out early, and seemsmore interested in drinking and groping his girl.

The White Pirates, represented by a man named Cerash,and accompanied by a Dwarf advisor, and two burly human body guards. The Whites are rumored to workclosely with the Dwarves.

The Blue Pirates, represented by a man named Tinmor,and two burly body guards. He clearly has some sort of advanced communication system that he is using to talk with someone remotely. The Blues are rumoredto be working with a faction of the Star Farers.

The Red Pirates, represented by a man named Rakanorwho is accompanied by a Martian, advisor called Horat, and two burly human body guards armed with Martian weapons.The Reds are rumored to be working with the Free Martians,as opposed to those who have been colonized by theDragons, Dwarves, Elves... Rakanor and Horatgreet and talk with The Juggler who introducesthem to the Party.

The Grey Pirates, represented by Ashny, who shows up alone. He sits with and talks with the Europans,and the Greys are rumored to working with the Europans.

The Black Pirates, represented by a mancalled Uwaa, who comes with two construct creatures who are vaguely human but have four arms. The Blacksare slavers and are rumored to work with the OuterSystem Dwellers (Mind Flyers, Beholders, Neogi).Everyone else keeps far from them.

From the Dragon Empire, a Black Dragon spawn calledStakahlla, who is the official Dragon Empire representativeon Bral, a female black dragon spawn with two lizardmen bodyguards.

Also from the Dragon Empire, a Red Dragon spawn called Perekhvatkin, with two lizardmen bodyguards.

Dragon Spawn are the result of a Dragon mating witha human, elf, etc. and look like small dragons walkingup right, and having more developed arms. They are oftenthe most trusted of retainers of the nobility of theDragon Empire.

The Black Dragons are currently the rulers of theDragon Empire. There is some sort of complicatedsystem where the rulership of the Empire is changedevery 100 years in a manner that is not obviousto outsiders. The Red Dragons are the chief internalantagonists of Black Dragon leadership. The partyis aware that trouble is brewing in the Dragon Empire,with many predicting a civil war caused by the recentdisappearance of the Black Dragon Emperor.

Meredin, the head of Halfling Thieves Guild here onBral, actually escorts the two dragon spawn to locations that are as far apart as possible.

The Shou Thieves Guild is represented by an oriental looking man named Omes-Skel, with two ninja looking body guards. The party recognizesthis guy as having the same manner of dressas the man they encountered outside of Holliver's,the head of Marnor Mages Guild, house on the nightof his death and when they raided his house. Hewas seen flying away in a saucer-like vessel which ischaracteristic of the Europans.

The Europans, who look like Greys, are represented by Espolonin, the local Europan ambassador and two strange things that look a cross between a cat and monkey, iea monkey with fangs, claws, and a prehensiled tail.They seem to be partially sentient, but the Party notessome sort of metal attachment at the back of their necks.

The auctionis arranged like a meeting with a dias, made of a bunchof crates pushed together. The audience sits in a bunch ofchairs that are scattered about randomly. Some scantilyclad women (halflings, humans, Martians) are running aboutselling drinks. They leave cards for The House of HeavenlyFlowers, in the middle city. Meredin circulates among the patrons. He expresses surprise that The Juggler is here, and wishes her good fortune. It seems that he is being sarcastic.

The proceedings begin with Meredin thanking everyone fortheir cooperative presence and reminding them that paymentin full is due at the close of auction. He pulls out aRail Gun Pistol, demonstrates it by shooting a dog that isconfined in a cage, that looks like a cage built to house a bunch of Sophonts. The pistol looks exactly like one of theones the party brought back from the abandoned star farer ship.

Tinmor, the Blue Pirate, objects to the entire proceedingsaying that this is just a scam as the ship will be guardedby Star Farer Tech. Meredin shuts this down by producinga document from the Bralian navy declaring that the shiphas been abandoned and thus is fair salvage. He goes onto point out that the Bralian authorities have declaredthe ship to be a hazard to navigation pointing out thatthis means they will be doing something soon to get rid ofit. Bidders should be aware that they have to act fast.

Meredin starts the bidding at 10k GP. The Europans and The Juggler do not bid, but the Europan is constantly talking tothe Grey Pirate Ashny. At the end the Grey Pirates and the Shou Thieves Guild are the last two bidders, with theGrey Pirate winning the auction for 75k GP.

Meredin thanks everyone for their goodbehavior and Enk for allowing the use of his valuablespace for this effort.

Sal speaks to Ashny, the Grey Pirate and winnerof the auction, revealing that he knows the locationof the Star Farer vessel and offering to revealvaluable intelligence about conditions on the wreck. Ashny is intrigued and they agree to meettomorrow at the Laughing Beholder.

Sal sends a note to the Shou, Omes-skel, telling himthat the party has valuable information to shareabout the location of the Star Farer vessel, and tocome to the Golden Helm after the auction. No oneturns up.

Wilhelm returns to Sal and he has a black stonewax seal embosser. The image is of a winged dragon.It looks well used, and important.

Sal and Minus head to the House of Heavenly Flowersand discover a brothel featuring halflings, humans,and Martians. Upon entering the parlor, Minus seemsto be well known to at least one of the halflinggirls, and Sal hooks up with Methany, a human working girl. She tells him that the Shou can be found in a small section of the city known as Shou-town where at leastone faction of the Star Farers have some dwellings,a store, and an outpost.

Methany is intrigued that Sal may have some connection with the Star Farers telling him that she would love to get to Alpha Blue, a well known Star Farer base inthe Ring of Smoke. She understands that it is verygood gig for a woman in her line of work. Can Salhelp her to do that? She would be ever so grateful.

Sal and Minus spend the night at the Garden of HeavenlyFlowers. Yumi is disgusted.

Friday 22 April

Zothique/Rock of Bral:Advertisement in the Rolling Stone and otherplaces. It is very fancy:------------------------------------------------The Fireball Alliance is pleased to offer forauction 11 lots of Star Farer Tech. Theseitems were taken as slavage fron an abandonedStar Farer vessel, and a certificate of provenancefrom the CAS Office of Maritime Affairs is includedwith each lot.

Lots 1-10 are ready to eat provisions for 10 sophontsfor 100 days. They are packaged and can be stored at roomtemperature for at least 10 years. They do not need wateror heat to be prepared for consumption. They provide nutritionto sustain a sophont and with the addition of water 10 sophontswould need not other external inputs for 100 days. Samples willbe available before the auction.

Lot 11 is a Water Condenser. This condenser is brand newand manufactured by International Data and Control. It is selfpowered by sunlight. In relatively dry environment, 25% humidity,the condenser provides enough water to sustain a large farm,enough to grow cereal grains for 1000 sophonts for 1 year ofconsumption. The condenser has been set up and water from itwill be provided at the auction. The condenser includes a complete suite of spare parts and is guaranteed by its manufacturefor at least 10 years. Due to the nature of this item, which hasa reserve price of 100,000 GP, all bidders must supply a 10,000 GPearnest fee to bid. This fee is refunded to all bidders on the successful completion of the auction.

The auction will take place at the Man O'War at 7:00 PMon Saturday 30 April. For details of this auction please be in touch with The Dorotheum. ------------------------------------------------

Linrin returns to the party with a box thatcontains 6 bottles of Elven winefrom Captain Aurliana. He tells them that Elven wine is very valuable, 100's of GP dependingon vintage, and that it is purported to bean aphrodisiac. He suggests bringing it to The Edge, a fine tavern that is favored bythe Star Farers. They go crazy for stuff likethis.

Sal gives Linren two bottles as his cut, and theypen a note back to Captain Aurliana mentioning thatSansa is interested in real estate on Bral. Linrinalso mentions that he is working on a dwelling placefor the party here on Bral. Yumi is disgusted.

Ashny of the Grey Pirates turns up at the Laughing Beholderasking after Sal, Gerag, Yumi, Wulfgar, Minus, and Ekkie.First he asks if they want to join a return expedition, ledby the Grey Pirates, but they outright refuse. He then offersthem 6k GP for information about the abandoned ship. Theycooperate by drawing maps and telling him what they encounteredincluding the Black Fungus. While this dissappoints him,he thanks them for their cooperation. Sal then mentionsthe Party's interest in getting back to Kylindo. Ashny gives them a pained look noting how difficult it is innormal circumstances, but that it is especially bad nowwith a civil war brewing in the Dragon Empire. He suggeststhat they look him up in a week or so after he and his friends have taken advantage of the abandoned ship.

Yumi goes to the Fireball Alliance and tells them aboutthe auction from last night. She accuses them of havinga leak and points out that there is now urgency in dealingwith the abandoned ship. They do not have a currentquest or mission for her.

Sal leads Gerag, Ekkie, and Wulfgar over to Shou-town.Shou-town looks unusual with plastic and strange verylight metals leading to things that looks as if theycannot possible be standing up or support the weighton top of them.

They ask after Omes-skel and are led to a store/snackshop. They are willing to share with him the location of the abandoned ship and notes on its condition in returnfor a trip to Kylindo. They know that the Shou canget to Kylindo due to their mis-adventure on Kylindo inMarnor where they clearly encountered a Shou. He tellsthem that Shou must have had some sort of connectionon Kylindo which makes it easier to get there. Otherwiseit is quite difficult to get there. He is willing totrade them for the information, but it will be timeconsuming to arrange a trip to the inner system.He can provide a reload for the Rail Gun Pistols,they have many shots ~1000 in them, and onereload is all any one ever needs.

The party has a long talk about with Omes-skel about what they have learned. The International Data and ControlCorporation, manufacture of the water condensor, also manufactured the Green Thing. The Green Thing is clearly some sort of amalgam of magic, of the worst sort of necromancy, and star farer tech. This isthe most cutting edge of research and is pursuedby many of the Star Farers. Something like it musthave brought the Party here from Kylindo as teleportationover such a long distance is beyond the abilities of eitherpure magic or the Star Farer technology.

Omes-skel and Sal arrange to meet at The Edge this eveningwith the enticement of a bottle of Elven Wine to share.Sal sends a note to Linren telling him that he has a mark on the hook for the Elven Wine. Yumi is disgusted.

The party talks among themselves with Sal noting thathe is trying to build connections with the Shou and GreyPirates in hopes of finding someone who will be able toget them back to Kylindo. Also Yumi notes that the descriptionof their friend Xort from Marnor, they talked about him withOmes-Skel, sounds like a Grey Martian, which is one of therare sub-races that can be found on Mars. Sal puts an ad inthe newspaper, The Rolling Stone, asking if any one has seen Xort.

They review their options:

1) Return to the Purple Planet and try to reverse how they got here. - No way. That place is too dangerous.2) The asteroid Cincor where there is the remains of Erisan tech called the Eggs. It is rumored that the Erisans knew how to teleport across space. - That sounds rather dangerous.3) Look up the free trader Flowghost under Captain Ocaba who is known to travel illegally to the inner system - not clear if this is still viable with the troubles in the Dragon Empire.4) Go to Mars. It is rumored that there is ancient Martian tech that can teleport across space. - Mars is clearly a mess and quite dangerous. On the other hand, their friend The Juggler is clearly close with some Martians.5) Take on the space pirates that attacked them as they returned to the Rock of Bral/Zothique. - Not even clear what sort of pirate attacked them.6) Pursue an opportunity that Gerag found at the House of Tempus where there is a flyer "Loyal followers of Tempus. Information has reached us that a location sacred to Tempus has been found in the Ring of Smoke. The asteroid Lethe has a ruin that bears many of the signs of sacred Tempus. This House of Tempus seeks brave followers to explore these ruins and report back. Those that step up to this challenge will get all the support that we can muster. Fight On!" - this sounds promising.7) Soon factions of the Dragon Empire will be recruiting soldiers, etc. for the brewing civil war. - no one is excited by this.

They decide to pursue the ruin on Leche, Yumi notes that itis a short two day journey, and Gerag and Yumi go to the House of Tempus to talk. The Brothers are pleased tosee Gerag again and tell them that someone spotted a ruinthat included a clock. Tempus besides being a god ofwar was also a god of time keeping. They give them a drawing of the ruin, and wish them good luck.

Sal meets with Omes-Skel at The Edge, and theyshare a bottle of Elven Wine. The Edge isdone up like a copy of Shou-town, but without the plasticor light metal, thus it looks klunky rather than elegant. Omes-skel tells him that the Star Farers travel to the starsthrough some sort of natural tunnels through anotherdimension which shorten the immense distances betweenthe stars. Finding ways to artifically open such tunnels is one of the most important areas of research for thestar farers. Thus their story about their journey fromKylindo to the Purple Planet is very interesting. Also there are factions among the StarFarers, but they have mostly sworn off violentstruggle, the consequences are very bad, but thereare fierce rivalries.

The Star Farers come to places like the Kylindo systemfor the unusual technology that is very valuable.Thus they come here trading star farer tech formagic items.

Sun Jan 22, 2017 6:02 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

Friday 22 April 981

The Juggler turns up late at the Laughing Beholder askingafter the Party and wanting to talk to them. She meets with Gerag and Yumi and shows them a note she got from theDragon Empire Ambassador:

Dearest Lady, I would most appreciate the favor of your companyat the Dragon Empire Embassy at your earliest convenience.I would very much like your help in recovering somethingthat is important to me that went missing at the recentgathering that we both attended. I, and the Empire, wouldbe most grateful to whoever helped me in this matter, andI can assure that prompt resolution of this matter willresult in tranquility, while other outcomes will becalamatous.

Do they know what she is talking about? Neither Geragor Yumi have any clue. She also tells them that shehas another job for them. There is a warehouse thatcontains some supplies that the Free Martians purchasedto aid their struggle versus Imperialism. This stuff wasstolen by pirates and brought here to Bral. She andher friends have an opportunity to take the stuff back,but need the party's help. Gerag and Yumi tell her thatthey are willing to help, but they will be busy for thenext few days. What do they need to do? She needs themto infilitrate, eliminate guards, hold briefly while a pick up is arranged. That is fine, and she will be in touch nextweek.

Saturday 23 April

Ad in the Rolling Stone: "Have you seen Xort, the Grey Martian?Contact Sal, at the Laughing Beholder."

Party boards the Wandering Nancy and heads towards the asteroidLethe. Yumi and Gerag talk with Wilhelm and he tells them he didtake a small item, a shiny black rock, from the "Black DragonLady". This is obviously the item that The Juggler was talkingabout. They will tell her when they get back.

Monday 25 April

They arrive at Lethe and see a rocky, terraces with tunnels,sandy small asteroid. They can clearly see the ruin which isa stone building with a metal framework anda prominant clock face. They are able to landnear by but do have to track across a plain to get to the ruin.They approach from the side with the clock and see blackmetal statues of pike welding soldiers. They can make noidentification of them. They get to the side of the building,and Gerag enters via one of the windows. He sees a gallerywith a door and an old tapestry depicting a train travelingthrough a green plain. The others come in, they do a bitof exploring, and as they prepare to go through the door,Gerag trips a trap. A big metal statue swings down and hitsYumi, Wulfgar and Ekkie. They note a pressure plate in thefloor that triggered the trap. The statue is rusted andpitted so badly that it cannot be identified.

They go into the main room and see a statue of a dancingboy, which is polished smooth. Gerag notes that there is someresidue of polish on the statue indicating that someone wasrecently taking care of it. They note the big entrances tothe exterior, stairs up leading to the clock, and down into darkness,and two doors. They enter the two doors and see two Iron Servitors,one of which begins beating on a copper gong. They move into attack,realize how difficult the metal men are to hit, and then hear andsee more of them coming up the stairs. A tough fight ensues againsteight of the things. They manage to dispatch them, note that theyhave no mechanism, but are solid.

Wulfgar is battered, he held the top of the stairs, and Yumiheals him. Rail Gun pistols were quite effective and aredistributed among those who can use them. At one point Salgrabbed two green power stones and tried to use them as gernades. While they did explode they were not terriblyeffective.

They debate what to do next and decide to go below.

Sun Feb 05, 2017 7:14 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

Monday 25 April Continued

Lethe:They descend into what looks like a waiting room, woodenbenches and doors to platforms, and explore the various metal statues there. They enterinto the ticket office and encounter two iron servitors thatseem to be rather relunctant to fight. They dispatchthem. At the rear of the ticket office is vault doorwhich has been ripped open by something very strong, brokenlocking pins. Within is a mess of decaying cloth and crates.There is some coinage scattered about. They begin gatheringup stuff. Sal finds a set of golden scale mail. Gerag findsa necklace that looks like prayer beads, but each bead is skull. They find a staff with a silver squid with wavingtentacles on its end, an ebony wand with a large pearl on the end, a silver dinner set with some very fine and unusualdecorations, a crate of Lift Wood (very valuable for buildingflying ships), and a sea scape painting that gives any onewho looks at it the creeps. Sal Detects Magic and Eviland finds that all are ordinary except the Skull Necklaceand the Squid Staff which are magical, but not evil. Theyalso gather a pile of coins, platinum, gold, silver, and copper.It would take a great deal of time to thoroughly investigate,and they decide to move on.

Yumi reveals to them that she can read the signs around thewaiting room. One says Tickets, another says Lunch, anda bunch say Track 1, Track 2, etc. Clearly this is nota temple to Tempus, but rather an ancient Erisian trainstation.

They move into what seems to be a lunch counter. There are threeiron statues that seem to be unmoving. There is a rack withsheafs of paper with colorful pictures on the front. Sal looksat one, and begins reading. It is an essay of literary criticismwhich explores the homo-erotic sub-text of the Dick and Janereading teaching series claiming that Dick and Jane were forcedinto standard sexual roles by a patriarchal, reactionary societywhen in fact there are many clues in the text to their underlying homosexuality. To the others Sal seems to have become drooling anddistracted spouting nonsense about the erotic symbolism of Spot,originally being a cat and transforming into a dog in later editions,and Puff the cat. After a while Sal recovers, and the horriblebook is discarded.

Gerag gathers up two more of the "magazines" one being a tract demandingthe revolutionary overthrow of the existing political structure,and the other called Swords and Bucklers with articles about fighting,etc. Others crumble to dust when touched.

Yumi tells them that the two doors at the rear of the lunch countersay "Men" and "Women" on them. Sal goes into the women's room andsees a tiled room with fixtures filled with what appears to be freshclean water. There is faint acrid smell. In one of the basins a goldring glitters, and when Sal reaches in to retrieve it, there isa violent explosion which burns and badly hurts Sal. After somediscussion, Sal is healed by Yumi. Sal insists on seeing the men'sroom, where he finds a smashed, disicated mess. There is a closetin the corner and within is a dented copper bucket. Gerag, accessinga deep memory from a previous life, flees in terror.

They can see that the doors to the platforms are bulging inwardwith trickles of sand where they are pushed open a bit. They wiselydecide to avoid these.

They head up the stairs and as they near the top, they hear somethingfalling from high above. Smashing into the stairs ahead of them isan unidentified lump of iron, and they hear the beat of large wings.Landing at the top of the stairs is a frightening creature that hasa female human head (although the eyes are large like Europans, orhas they have come to understand ancient Erisians) on a winged bull.Parts of the bull body are metal (legs, armored chest) whilethe face and wings appear to be flesh.

Yumi begins speaking with the creature and it sits down. She tellsthem it is an ancient Erisian war machine and it has been herehundreds of years guarding the train station. It says thatit is long over due for maintenance and that it cannot find therepair station. It is called Stahleno.

Yumi suggests taking it back to Bral, while the others are clearlyfrightened of it. Gerag notes, "Maybe it will carry our stuff,or maybe it will kill us in our sleep." Yumi begins tolead Stahleno back to the Wandering Nancy. The others checkout the clock, can see that Stahleno probably perched thereand watched them, and find that the clock mechanism is a rusted,rotted mess. They then use the lift wood to rig a platformto carry the silver dinner set back to the Wandering Nancy.This works well. On the way they encounter a large rattle snake, and Gerag is bitten and poisoned before it is killed.They join Yumi, who has somehow convinced Stahleno to go dormant in the cargo hold. Yumi puts Gerag into a HealingTrance which stops the spread of the poison.

They make their way back to Bral on the Wandering Nancy.

Tuesday 26 April

Zothique/Rock of Bral:Article in the Rolling Stone------------------------------------------------Martian Rarity Visits Bral

The Martian Ether Battleship the Regal RadiumReviler arrived at the port of Bral today. It issaid to be hundreds of years old, built during theMars-Erisian war, but now hailing from the city ofKirtal. It is armed with the most modernof Martian weapons. Citizens are urged to view the wonder which is in port to join the Bralian navyin an unspecified operation and is expected to leavesoon.------------------------------------------------

Thursday 28 April

Zothique/Rock of Bral:Party returns from Lethe. They read the news of the MartianBattleship and Sal hears from Linrin that their scam ofthe Elven Navy Captain has come to an end. After somediscussion they send him a brief note that Sansa has movedto Port Greely/Tinarath.

Gerag is taken to the Polyglot Temple to the MartianMishum who evangelizes for The Veneration of the Progenitors.He puts Gerag in his radium machine and there is a greenglow. He tells Gerag that he has removed thepoison, but that he should remain calm for the rest ofthe day and he should be OK in the morning. Geragdonates 100 GP to the Mishum's cult.

Sal visits an armorer who will properly size his goldarmor and make a gold helmet, functional not decorativeto go with it. He is told that the armor with itsancient Erisian decorations could be quite valuable toa collector. The armorer will look into it forSal.

Gerag, Ekkie and Minus go to the House of Tempusand tell the Brothers the bad news about what they foundon Lethe. The Brothers are disappointed. They showthe brothers the Squid Staff and Skull Necklace and theycast some spells. The Skull Necklace is a protectionagainst undead, but they can make nothing of the SquidStaff.

Note from The Juggler for Wilhelm at the Laughing Beholder:

Please send a note to the stage manager at the Royal TheatricalCompany letting her know that you have returned. The Juggler.

They respond to this and meet the Juggler in a bar calledthe Crooked Square. It is near the ship construction yardand it is clearly the hang out of the workers from there.Gerag is resting, Minus goes off to visit his girlfriend,and Wulfgar is busy seeing to new armor and new weaponswhich were damaged in the fight with the Iron Servitors.

The Juggler, who is wearing her disguise, meets them there.They return to her the black rock that Wilhelm took fromthe Black Dragon. She is very thankful for this, and saysthat the Black Dragon Ambassador was surprisingly cooperative whenshe met with her. The Juggler thinks the Black Dragonsmay be seeking allies for the coming struggle withinthe Dragon Empire.

The Juggler tells them that she needs their help forthe cause of Martian indepdendence. She tells them thata shipment of Dwarven weapons destined for Free Mars washijacked and brought here to Bral. It is in a HalflingTheives Guild front warehouse and dock complex calledNim's Holdings. Sheshares with them a map of the complex. There is an office building, three warehouses, and three docksall within a fenced yard. The plan is that The Juggler'sMen will create a diversion by firebombing the officebuilding, fires are very serious on an asteroid like Bral,and launching a raid on one warehouse. That should attractthe security patrol and lots of attention, allowing theParty to hit the warehouse that they think holds the weaponswhich is in about a dozen heavy crates. The Party willhave to get into the warehouse, find the weapons (it is big with multiple entrances), transport them to thebig dock, where they will be met by the Martian Battleship,which will have crew to load the crates on to the ship.The Battleship is due back early tomorrow, and tomorrow evening the attack will happen. The Battleshiphas enough firepower that a good broad side would rubblethe complex.

She promises them 1000 GP each for a successful mission.

The party accepts, and they plan to meet again heretomorrow afternoon to nail down details.

Ekkie goes to check out the complexherself. Sal joins Minus at the House of HeavenlyFlowers.

Sun Feb 19, 2017 7:15 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

Thursday 28 April Continued

Ekkie scouts out Nim's Holdings. The Juggler's map is acctually quite accurate, but there are few differences. She sees a couple of halfling guards patroling the yard. They armed with some sort of Dwarven weapon, there is the obvious steam generator sphere, but it looks stubbier than a Steam Rifle. She gets into the target warehouse. The locks are simple and she has no trouble picking them. The first room seems to be filled with a bunch of raw materials. Besides a lock on the door to the second room there is a noise making alarm, which she is able to avoid, but her tampering will be evident if someone takes a look. In the second room she sees what looks like a pile of dwarf weaponry in about a dozen big crates. There are a couple of carts and some sort of Dwarf steam truck parked within the warehouse. She makes her way out, grabbing a box of spices from the first room.

Minus visits Lidzira at the House of Heavenly Flowers. She asks him about where he has been, and what he and his friends found. He just tells her about looted ruins on a desert asteroid, poisonous beasts, etc. Notably he does not mention Stahleno. They spend a pleasant evening together.

After the meeting with The Juggler, Sal also heads off to the House of Heavenly Flowers, but he just hangs out, drinking and talking. He learns that after the Martian Battleship arrived at Bral, it left in the company of ships from the Bralian Navy. No one really knows what they are doing, but there is speculation that perhaps they joined with a faction (Blacks, Reds, Golds, Whites, one of the minor clans (Blues, Greens, Silvers, Coppers, Four Elements)) of the Dragon Empire in some pre-cursor operation to the brewing Dragon Empire Civil War.

Friday 29 April

The party meets over breakfast to make plans for the raid on Nim's Holdings. They finally remember their flying Skiff and realize it would be perfect. It can fly over the fence, and drag loaded carts around. They also realize that the Fire Brigade is likely to turn up quickly, so they decide to get some disguises as firemen. Plus they will bring some tarps to be sure to cover up their stuff if they have to take it out of the yard.

They test their star farer communicators and see that they find that they work well pretty much over the whole of the small asteroid of Bral. They are like flip phones and thus need a hand free for use.

Gerag and Ekkie go to the House of Tempus and tell the Brothers about what they found on Lethe, i.e. that the ruin was not a Temple of Tempus, but rather a Erisian train station. They are disappointed, but will let Gerag and his friends know of other opportunities they find for Tempus sites. They invite Gerag to meditation, i.e. sparring. Gerag does not do very well, and Ekkie notes that he seems half step slow.

Yumi visits the Fireball Alliance, telling them of the ruin on Lethe. She mentions the metal gollums, the looted treasure room, and broken clock. She tells them, that she and her new friends are eager to explore other such ruins.

Sal looks for firefighter disguises, and realizes that the Bral Fire Brigade is highly revered by the people of Bral, and there are many hats, patches, etc. to be had. He is able to assemble a credible set of disguises without much trouble. He also visits The Juggler's Men hideout and picks up some scrolls.

Minus searches for Fire Extinguishers. It turns out this a common Star Farer piece of tech that is very popular here. He picks up a set of 5 for 40 GP each. Similar to small kitchen extinguishers.

Minus goes out shopping for some new clothes. In the end he looks like Minus Ramone, the latest drummer for the Ramones ready to join Johnny, Joey, and Dee Dee for their up-coming tour.

He also shops for better armor and buys a set of star farer carbon shell armor. It will be resized and ready for him in a couple of days.

In the late afternoon, they meet at the Crooked Square, and discuss the plan for the raid. The Juggler tells them that mostly the fire will be a smoke bomb, and her men will launch an attack on a warehouse on the opposite end of the yard as their target warehouse. The Martian Battleship has already left port and is laying in wait just off shore. It will move into the central dock when the smoke bomb goes off. Marines will secure the dock, and be waiting for the party.

The Rally Point will be the Laughing Beholder. Only return there if they are not being followed.

As the sun sets, they depart agreeing that all will start in about an hour. The party returns to the Laughing Beholder, and Minus flies the Skiff to an alley near Nim's Holding. It is very quiet in the Docks area at night. There is night life in the middle and upper city.

The smoke bomb goes off, and commotion can be heard at the other side of the yard. They plan to wait for the arrival of the fire brigade, but out of the darkness they see the frightening silhouette of the Martian Battleship bristling with weapons glowing green with radium swing close and dock. They jump off with Gerag and Ekkie scrambling over the fence. Gerag checks to see if anyone has noticed, the halflings are clearly distracted by the smoke and commotion on the other side of the yard, while Ekkie opens the lock on the outer door. As Ekkie opens the door, Minus flies the Skiff over the fence, scrapping the top in his nervousness, as an alarm sounds. Gerag can see Martian Marines swarming over the dock as he turns away to join the others in the warehouse. Sal sends Wilhelm out to keep watch while Minus flies the skiff into the warehouse, and Ekkie opens the door to the second room.

While all the others work to load crates on carts, Minus is busy tying them to the Skiff and Ekkie is figuring out how to get the Dwarf Steam cart to work. Wilhelm can hear the sound of a struggle on the other side of the yard, and the arrival of the real Bral Fire Brigade.

They load the carts with 12 of the crates from the weapons pile. There seem to be two sorts and Minus breaks open one of each, taking some ammunition and five Dwarf Steam rifles. They fill two carts and the steam cart and begin heading towards the dock. Minus grabs another smaller crate and secrets it on the Skiff. Wilhelm notes that some Halflings, clearly woken by the commotion are spilling out of the office building and either joining the struggle at the other end of the yard or moving towards the dock held by the Martian Marines. Sal tells Wilhelm to meet them at the dock.

As the little convoy moves into the main part of yard a squad of halflings nd Martian Marines are struggling and paying no attention to the party. They get to the dock where they see Martian Sailors milling about. Ekkie simply parks the steam cart, and Minus cuts the ties to the carts, as they all pile on to Skiff.

Minus pilots the Skiff away from the struggle in the center of the yard, as the Martian sailors begin loading the crates onto the Battleship. They have no trouble getting over the wall and disappearing into the dark streets of the Docks area of Bral. No one seems to have noticed them, and they make their way back to the Laughing Beholder where Large Luigi and his staff welcome them back. Minus checks the box he liberated and sees what he notes to be 20 Dwarf Steam Grenades. He spends some time repairing the scrape on the Skiff where it had trouble getting over the fence into the yard.

There is a note from the armorer for Sal: "The Elven collector Bugik Nik is very interested in the Golden Erisan Armor that I am altering for you. Please come see me to discuss what you would like to do."

Sun Mar 05, 2017 7:37 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

Saturday 30 April

Beautiful embossed invitation arrives at the Laughing Beholderinviting the party to the Auction this evening at the Man O'Waras the guests of the Fireball Alliance and the Dorotheum.Semi-formal attire required.

Article in the Rolling Stone------------------------------------------------Bralian Navy Removes Hazard to Navigation

The Bralian Navy reports that they have mounted anexpedition that successfully destroyed a dangeroushazard to navigation in the Ring of Smoke. GeneralDairbad reported that word of an abandoned starfarer vessel reached the Bralian Navy abouta week ago, and the expedition was launched assoon a possible to eliminate the hazard. He hadno comment to reports that other nations hadparticipated in the effort, but an anonymous sourcereports that Martian and Shou Star Farers joinedthe Bralian navy in the destruction of the wreck.When asked if the derelict was plundered beforeits destruction, the General ended our discussion.

The same anonymous source reported that the shiphad been thoroughly looted before its destruction.We spoke to the Fireball Alliance, and ProconsulGadaric Main, leader of the local chapter, reportedthat an Alliance expedition had explored the wreckand reported it to the Bralian Navy. He mentionedthat an auction of some items taken as salvageis taking place tonight at the Man O'War. TheAlliance concurs with the Bralian Navy's estimationthat the ship was a hazard, but Proconsul Main declined to speculate on what the ship was doing in the Ringof Smoke and what led to it being abandoned.

It is very intriguing that a star farer vessel was inthe Ring of Smoke, and further that it was abandoned. We can only ask what a star farer vessel was doing within the dominion of the Confederation of Asteroid States, andwhat might have led to it being abandoned. Any informationon this would be most appreciated.

Another article:

Fire at Nim's Holdings

A fire broke out at local shipping and receiving firmNim's Holdings late yesterday evening. The Fire Brigadewas summoned as soon as smoke was detected, and theirprompt response insured that there was only minimal damage and air fouling. Captain Tasan of the firebrigade reported that the fire started in an improperlysecured tub of caulking material. Nim's Holdingswas assessed a large fine for the hazard theycaused to the Bralian air bubble.------------------------------------------------

Sal goes to the armorer, Morweg, and they arrange to meet withBugik Nik, Elven collector of Erisian artifacts, on Tuesday. Morweg will stop work on the armor, butwill continue on the golden helm.

Sal gets Wilhelm a new fancy harness for tonight'sfestivities.

Ekkie tries to sell the box of stolen spices to Large Luigi, but discovers that they are notworth terribly much. She just gives them toLuigi and the staff and they prepare her a free meal of deep fried rat for breakfast.

Gerag goes to visit the House of Tempus and talksto the brothers. There he meets Elder Enthom who tells him that a Captain Mal Fisher of the freetrader Bella Legosi has need of a crew to investigatea derelict. They will meet on Monday.

Gerag goes to Shou-town and buys some robes made ofsome strange star farer material, but it does resemblethe flowing, vaguely oriental guise of Gerag The Wise.

Sal also shops for clothes and ends up looking likea dapper steam-punk.

Ekkie shops in the main market looking for Sneezing Powderand a Flash Bang, but has no luck. For her fancy dress shefinds a crazy dress with a giant hat. She thinks she looksgreat.

For fancy dress Minus finds a lavender suit and a featheredcowboy hat. He seems to pull it off and looks good.

Sal visits Gasper's Reclaimations. The shop specializesin rare imported items both magical and technological.He asks after an ever full alcohol flask. The mageNolan DeVries tells Sal, that such an item is possible,but it will have to built in the inner system wheremagic is stronger. Normally something like this wouldcost about 1000 GP and take about a month, but with thechaos in the Dragon Empire, DeVries makes no promises.He will be back in touch with Sal when he has somethingconcrete.

Ekkie is distressed that The Juggler has not paid them for theirwork last night. She goes with Gerag to their hideout, whichlooks like an acting company which provides costumes andprops. She sees some men lounging in the entrance amidpiles of costumes and props. She demands to see The Juggler.At first they try to bursh her off, but after she insistsand Gerag casually destroys a wooden chair with one hand, theylet her in to see The Juggler. She is in her usual disguiseand is exuberant about the success of the raid last night.Ekkie demands payment, and The Juggler notes that they shouldbe happy to advance the cause of Free Mars. Ekkie is notwilling to work for free, and The Juggler says that she canpay them in kind once the heat has died down. What ispayment? Very high quality lamp oil that the Dwarves andHalflings manufacture. Ekkie says that is all well and good,but The Juggler and the Free Martians owe them, and at somepoint she and her friends will collect. OK. The oil willbe sent to the party sometime next week.

The party goes to the Man O'War. It is done up likewooden warship with tables where guns would be. It is veryelegant. The Maitre d' Alistar greets the party and notesthat their host is waiting for them. He is distressed byWulfgar's clothing and from a side room and suit coat and tieare produced for Wulfgar. After sprucing up everyone's clothes with a lint roller he escorts the party to a table where Proconsul Gadaric Main, the head of the local chapter of the Fireball Alliance, awaits them.

He is a tall, thin man with piercing blue eyes and snowwhite hair. Gerag and Ekkie are reminded of Mina, backin Marnor, as he has the same mannerisms and turns ofphrases that she uses. He thanks them for their effortsand tells them that he expects the auction to go verywell and net a large profit for both the Allianceand the party. The party tells him of their plightand desire to return to Kylindo. He tells them thatnormally this would not be much of a problem, theywould book passage to the Moon and find a wayto get the Dragons to let them back to Kylindo,but now with the Dragon Empire having cut off all travel to the inner system the only means are metaphysical means of travel. The ancient Erisiansinvented some means of punching holes in thefabric of the universe and making tunnelsbetween one place and another. Even for themit seems it was erratic and unpredictable.

In discussion he notes that there seemed to besome connection between where they were on Kylindo,a mushroom forest in the Great Cavern, and the Purple Planet/Naat which featured mushroom forests. It is perhaps a natural connection or one of the Erisian's tunnels that they some how fell into. In any case their best bet would be find other places where there may be suchconnections. He suggests Carcosa which is an asteroidin the Ring of Smoke much like the Purple Planet/Naat. There too the suvivors of Eris have devolved. OnCarcosa they seem to have become color coded (Red, Black,White, etc.), and the place is so chaotic that it isdifficult to trade reliably. It is also dangerous as inthere some sort of black lake with an Erisian ruin inthe center. It still has active defenses and flying vehicles cannot approach too closely or they are destroyed.They arrange to meet on Tuesday, after the holiday weekendand he will share with them what little the Fireball Alliance knows about Carcosa.

Their waitress is pretty red head called Miranda (Fiery),and there is a snooty sommelier called Herbert. They alsomeet Felodrean, an elf, from the Dorotheum, who are runningthe auction.

Those who are bidding begin to turn up. There is red Martiancalled Horat, they met him before at the warehouse auctionand was chummy with The Juggler. He is representing thecity state of Kirtal which is known to be a center of modernMartian innovation. The big battleship was from Kirtal.There is the red Martian Princess Rostara with a White Dragon,in human form, Duncan Hall, who is the colonial governor. They represent the city state of Delonok, and scandelously the twoare said to be lovers. There is the red Martian Justafil representing the city state of Lascaont which is oneof the strongest of the old Martian city states. There isthe red Martian Mishum with a Gold Dragonspawn called PeterFrancis representing the Gold Dragon aligned city state ofFathire. There is the red Martian Silviri along with a WhiteDragonspawn called Philio Gradon who represent the city stateof Emancipation, formerly Yatharith, which has been takenover by group of disdent White Dragon freebooters who haveproclaimed that their territory is slave free which is ananathema to both the Dragon Empire and Old Martians.

The Trading Company is there represented by the party'sold friend Rayim. He seems to be taking this auction seriouslyas he not accompanied by a floozy. Ms. Niesse Hurnocis there representing a large trading company calledSmith's Coster. A grey bearded dwarf called MordregganZudrik is there representing House Zudrik which is knownfor it mining interests in the Ring of Smoke. Gerald Daxultis representing the large trading company House Daxault.

Some small free traders are there including Captain Fosus,who rescued the party from the Purple Planet/Naat and CaptainOcaba who they were refered to for an illicit trip to theinner system.

The Barlian government, such as it is, is represented bythe Castellan Morika Ashan.

There is delegation from Alpha Blue, the star farer space station/pleasure palace in the Ring of Smoke represented by a strangecreature that looks like a pile of rocks who is known as Rocky.He uses some sort of device to produce speech that otherscan understand.

The Elves are represented by the Ambassador and Elven ImperialSpace Navy Admiral Marianon Silmara. She is accompanied by grimlooking troop of elven gaurds.

From the Dragon Empire there is Blue Dragonspawn called Uskine. TheBlues are known to be allies of the Blacks who are the current rulersof the Empire. There is a Red Dragonspawn called Perekhvatkin. The Reds are known to be implacable opponents of the Blacks. There is a Gold Dragonspawn called Cameron Spencer and a White Dragonspawn called Gideon Marlin. The Golds and Whites are known to be neutral in thestruggle between the Blacks and Reds.

Valkan Riogan, a grim looking man with a prominent scar on his face,is here representing the large mercenary company Valkan's Legion.

Felodrean begins the auction be describing the crates of food stuff, thinkof military MRE's, of which the chefs of the Man O'War have producedhors d'oeuvres which are circulated by the wait staff. There are10 crates which can sustan 10 Sophonts for 1 year. There is vigorousbidding and the food stuff is sold for a total of 75,000 GP.

The Water Evaporator is an extremely valuable piece of high tech that isnearly priceless in dry conditions such as Mars and the Ring of Smoke. It generates enough water to sustain a large factory farm. Glassesof pure water generated by the device are circulated. The biddingis very spirited with the winner being the Dwarf Zudrik for 1,000,000 GP.He announces that he intends to lease the item, and those interestedin terms should see him on Tuesday at his office on Bral.

The Party and Fireball Alliance nets 90% of 1,075,000 = 967,500 GP. Theother 10% goes to the Dorotheum. Half is 483,750 GP and after acountingfor their 3,000 GP advance the party is owed 480,750 GP.

After auction the Zudrik approaches the party and ask if they want work watching after the vaporator. If so they should visit his officeFirst thing Tuesday.

Gadaric Main of the Fireball Alliance tells them the money will be in the party's bank accounts on Tuesday.

Sal talks to Felodrean of the Dorotheum and tells himthat the party has a cache of Liftwood to sell.Please come to the Dorotheum's upper city office on Tuesday,and they will be happy to arrange a sale.

Gerag, throwing caution to the wind, hits on theElven Ambassador and Admiral. She seems vaguelyamused, and brushes him off. Gerag, who had a bit too muchto drink then asks the pretty waitress Mirandafor a date. She responds positively, but says thatshe has to work tomorrow, the holiday, but is freeon Monday. They plan to meet for lunch at the GoldenHelm, a middle city establishment.

Sal and Minus make their way to the House of HeavenlyFlowers where they are now minor celebrities. Linrinis trying to ingratiate himself, and tells Sal thathe has found the perfect house for them.

Sunday 1 May

It is a holidady, May Day, which is a Quarter Day markingthe mid point between an Equinox and Solstice.

Sal and Minus awaken back at the Laughing Beholder. Theyhave a trophy with pie on the top. They have terriblestomach aches. They have no memory of how they got it.

There is a parade through the city. There are floats,marching bands, nobility on horses, etc. It leadsto the Festival Grounds and the Arena where thereare athletic contests and fighting contests. Geragjoins the unarmed fighting matches as an amateur. Minusbets on him, but Gerag is defeated in his first roundby a four armed green martian.

Sal and Wilhelm spend some time with the computer theygot from the derelict star farer vessel. It iscalled Estella, and responds to voice control.The computer tells them it is not connected toits cloud data base, but it can answer questionsbased on its general knowledge and some targeteddata bases that it has locally. They ask it abouttravel to Kylindo, and it give them some standardadvice about journeying to the Moon, capitol ofthe Dragon Empire, and then arranging a trip tothe surface of Kylindo. It does not seem to knowmuch more than they already do, at least on thissubject.

Gerag gets Miranda a live flowering plant, a traditionalMay Day gift at the Central Market.

Minus gets a "+" tatoo in memory of his dead brother.

Linrin shows up telling the party that he has foundthem a fabulous place to live. They make arrangementsto meet tomorrow. Ekkie talks with Linrin who directs her to a Wizard called Cedric who is living among the halflings. He is evidently hiding out from some thing, but no one knowswhat. He sells Ekkie some Sneezing Powder Bombs and someFlash Bangs.

Yumi checks on the Wandering Nancy. All seems OK and Stahlenois on guard within.

Monday 2 May

Linrin drags Sal, Wilhelm and Yumi to the "house" hehas found for them. It is between the middle andlower city among the halfling burrows. This oneis unusual as it has a front portion that is a woodenstructure. Linrin claims it will be ideal for theparty with places for big people and smaller peopleback in the tunnels. On the other hand the place isa wreck, smells bad ("It just needs a fresh coat ofpaint!," according to Linrin), and they notice that Linrin had to pick the lock to get in. With an initialabsurd asking price, 20kGP a month, and Sal noting thatLinrin is a known con-artist, the party decides topass on this "fabulous opportunity." Linrin tells themthat he will be happy to find them a better place.

Sal goes to the White Galleon a tavern in the MiddleCity to meet with Edashan who is a member of the Arcane,an organization dedicated to gathering knowledge. Edashanseems very interested in Wilhelm, the talking Ferret,and figures out that Sal got Wilhelm as a familar onKylindo. Edashan also does not have a good idea onhow to physically get to Kylindo. He suggests tryingto find Erisian gates, mentioning the Purple Planet/Naat,Carcosa, and Erisian military sites on Mars. He is willingto trade information for what Sal can tell him about Kylindo.He also mentions that a similar group called the InvertedPyramid may be able to help them. They have an officehere on Bral too.

Gerag meets the Man O'War waitress Miranda at the GoldenHelm. She tells him that her family has long lived onBral working construction or cargo handling. She isan aspiring actress. They decide to meet again.

Elder Enthom of the House of Tempus introduces Brother Geragto Captain Mal Fisher of the Free Trader Bella Legosi. CaptainFisher says that he encountered a famous wreck in a treacheroussection of the Ring of Smoke called the Great Barrier Field,lots of small rocks, dangerous to navigate. He saw the ancientErisian ship called the Esparto. It was loaded with Erisiansfleeing their planet after the Martian planet killer hit it.Attacked by Martians, pirates, or space dragons the Esparto fledinto the Great Barrier Field and was never heard from again.It is reputed to be full of treasure and Erisian tech. He sawthe wreck when the Bella Lugosi was hiding out in the Great BarrierField, but was unable to take advantage of the opportunity.He wants to hire a competant crew to explore and loot the wreck,and he suggests doing it as soon as possible. Whatever has madethe Esparto appear again, it is likely to make it visible toothers soon. They agree to 45/55 split, but the party gets firstchoice of items. He suggests that they meet at the Bella Lugosion Wednesday. It is a 2-day journey to the Esparto.

Minus visits the armorer Morweg to try to advance his CarbonShell armor. Morweg tells him that money is not the issue;it just takes time to work with Star Farer armor. Morweglends Minus a chain mail suit until he can deliver the newarmor.

Minus, after hearing about the debacle with Linrin and hishouse, checks out some realtors and find that a man namedKelkan comes highly recommended. His office is closedtoday, but open tomorrow.

Sun Mar 19, 2017 7:34 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

Tuesday 3 May

A note from Gadaric Main arrives at the Laughing Beholder for the party. It has in it a bank draft for 480,750 GP. It says:

It has been a true pleasure doing business with you. If you are interested in further opportunities in the Inner System specifically on Selene, please be in touch.

Also please come to visit to learn all we know about Carcosa.

Gadaric Main

Each takes 80,100 GP and are now "millionaires."

Yumi and Minus meet with the realtor Kelkan and they tell him they are interested in 6 bedroom place with full service (cleaning and food) and a shed. He tells them the going rate is 50 GP/person and full service is 50 GP for food, 25 GP for cleaning and 50 GP for their storage. Thus they are looking at ~400 GP/month. This would get them a "tenement" in middle city. They seem OK with this and he says that he will arrange for some to vist tomorrow at 10:00.

Bugik Nik, sharply dressed and a very discerning eyed elven art dealer meets with Morweg the armorer and Sal offering 3000 GP for the suit of golden Erisian scale mail. He would love to see more artifacts from lost Eris that Sal and his friends could provide. Sal sells the armor, and talks with Nik about gathering more such artifacts. They will meet for lunch at the Haughty Epicure.

Gerag goes to the House of Tempus and makes a donation of 1000 GP in return for a room for a year. They are thrilled by this. He makes his way to the Royal Theatrical Company and after some trouble meets the manager, a half elf called Kira Evensong. He is pretty sure that she is The Juggler. He tells her that he wants an audition for his friend Miranda Kanelos. Evensong agrees to see her tomorrow. He then sees Miranda who is working at the Man O'War and they arrange to meet this evening.

Ekkie and Wulfgar visit the dwarf Zudrik at the House Zudrik office in the Docks area. He has arranged a deal with the White Dragons to take the vaporator to the Moon. He has leased it to them who plan to use it for a farm there. Zudrik, who trusts no one, not even himself, wants the party to escort it plus a small team of Dwarves. The White Dragons will arrange transport. He offers 2000 GP/person. Ekkie tells him that she will bring this to the rest of her friends and they will meet him again tomorrow.

Sal goes to the Doretheum, which is in the upper city and is a very high end auction house. He speaks with the elf Felodrean who tells him that the Liftwood is worth 10,000 GP. He can auction it off and the party would get 9000GP or he can buy it out right for 8000 GP. Sal takes this deal. The Doretheum's receptionist is a very pretty woman named Gillian, and she wants to see Sal for dinner, inviting him to her place where she will whip something up.

Back at the Laughing Beholder the party talks about what they would like to do next. Gerag would like to get back to the inner system and get back in touch with his god. Ekkie and Minus would like to travel and a visit to the Moon, capitol of the Dragon Empire, seems like a good idea. Yumi is also interested in travel to the inner system. Sal likes it here, and is thinking about stopping being an adventurer and retiring here. Ekkie pens a note to Captain Fisher of the Bella Lugosi telling him that they are not interested in his expedition to a derelict Erisian ship in the Ring of Smoke.

They meet with Gadaric Main and he shares with them what he knows about Carcosa. He gives them a crude map with some locations on it. He notes the Erisian ruin on an island in a lake with an active weapon that prevents ships from getting too close. The inhabitants, like those on the Purple Planet, have devolved into barbarity. It is very dangerous, but the Erisian ruin might be just what they are looking for. They decide that this can wait until they return from the Moon.

Sal and Gerag, in the guise of Gerag The Wise, go to the Haughty Epicure to meet with Bugik Nik. Sal tells the Elf maitre'd that Gerag is not his servant, but free. After a pained look from the maitre'd, he lets Gerag in the restaurant as they are guests of Mr. Nik. Nik tells them that he lives here on Bral and collects and sells Erisian and other interesting artifacts. Sal expresses interest in joining Nik's operation bringing his many contacts with the adventuring community. Nik is intrigued especially after he is introduced to Wilhelm, the talking ferret. Sal also tells him that they have a Star Farer computing machine that could be very useful in helping to run such a business. They agree to meet again.

As they leave a pretty elf woman named Symithia invites Sal for a drink. She apparently has dubious intentions, and they disappear for the rest of the afternoon.

Yumi goes to the Fireball alliance and trains.

At end of the day, Nolan DeVries sends a note to Sal at the Laughing Beholder, that he has located a star farer device that produces alcohol. Please come and see him at Gasper's Reclaimations.

Sal then goes off and spends the evening with Guillia.

Gerag meets with Miranda telling her the good news on her audition at the Royal Theatre.

Ekkie sends a note to Zudrik telling him that she and her friends will join the mission to escort the water vaporator to the moon. They would like to meet to work out details tomorrow.

Minus talks with Lidzira, and she is interested in seeing more of the world than Bral, which she has never left. She would like to join the trip to the Moon. She is a skilled Illusionist.

Wednesday 4 May

Sal drags himself in after a long night.

At their morning meeting the Red Martian freedom fighter Horat turns up. He has met them before at the warehouse auction, The Juggler introduced them, and was at the auction for the food and water vaporator. He is from the city state of Kirtal on Mars which remains free. It is also known as a center of Martian innovation, and was where the big Martian battleship was based. He tells them that he is very sorry that The Juggler has not paid them for their efforts on behalf of Free Mars. While he has few resources here, he can make things right when and if they get to Mars. Also he tells them that Zudrik has engaged him to help transport the water vaporator to the Moon, thus he can make things up to them very soon.

A note from Zudrik telling them to meet with him the House of Zudrek for lunch to make arrangements.

Party goes to meet the realtor Kelkan. He shows them what he promised, and they see a couple of tenemants in the Middle City. They are not impressed and they would like to see something like the mixed halfling/big person dwelling that Linrin was hawking, or perhaps something more private, i.e. an estate in the Upper City. Both of these are harder to find and thus pricier, but he will see what he can do. He will be in touch. Sal has to fend off yet another random woman who throws herself at him.

They go to the House of Zudrik where they are served a lunch of baked beans and white bread. Also there is the White Dragonspawn Gideon Marlin, and the martian freedom fighter Horat. Marlin has arranged for a Wyvern, the special dragons that fly through space, cargo train to come to Bral, and take the vaporator to the moon. Wyvern's have limited range so they have to travel in hops. First to Mars, then Venus, then Mercury, and finally to the Moon. Each of those hops is one or two days. He wants to avoid Imperial entanglements, as there would be some sort of big tax on the vaporator. Horat will arrange for them to land at Kirtal and thus avoid interactions with the Dragon Empire around Mars. They will have no special trouble on Venus. The Elves hate everyone equally, so will not be a special problem. The Dwarves are not a problem, according to Zudrek. The White Dragons will arrange for the last hop to the Moon. Zudrek will send a team of three of his men to accompany the vaporator, and Horat will travel along with them, at least as far as Mars. The party wants some space for cargo for their "equipment", Stahleno. Marlin says that is no problem. The Wyverns will be here on Tuesday, and ready to travel again the next day.

Minus, Lidzira, and Ekkie arrange to meet Gideon Marlin to buy some magic items. He directs them to a house in the middle city. There they learn that those dragon clans not in the ruling heirarchy sell magic items illicitly to avoid paying the imperial tax and thus keep more of the profit for themselves. He sells them some invisibility potions and some green power stones.

Thursday 5 May

They meet again with Kelkan on real estate and he shows them a dilapidated estate in the high city. He apologizes saying that such properties are hard to come by and thus there is limited choice. They pass on this and he takes them to a halfling dwelling that had a two story store in front. It will need some renovations to fit what they want. They actually like this place, and he will get back to them on it will cost to get it into shape. It will be cheaper to rent as it is in a less desirable part of town, between the middle city and docks. Probably more like 350 GP/month.

Miranda auditions at the Royal Theatre. She gets a bit part in the musical farce, Starward Sail, about an inept pirate captain. She shows her appreciation to Gerag.

Friday 6 May

Word reaches Bral that the Martian Battleship the Regal Radium Reviler broke down on its journey to Mars and sailed to Alpha Blue, the star farerspace station/pleasure palace, where it needs help for repairs to continue to get Mars. Horat is asked tolook into what happened to the battleship, see if he can fix it, orfigure out what is needed from Mars to fix it. Maybe Zudrik/The Partycan be convinced to side trip to Alpha Blue in return for the Battleshipoffering escort to the Moon?

Javica from the Inverted Pyramid, some sort of society of magicalknowledge seekers, turns up at the Laughing Beholder looking for Sal and Wilhelm. She is a statuesque, long haired, red head but most strikingly she has a red crystal left arm that is alive.

Javica wants to know how they got off Kylindo? She meets them at the Raised Cup. They tell her what happened to them, and she concludes that it was a strange mistake that led them off Kylindo via some sort of natural connection between the Purple Planet and the Great Cavern. She leaves them a card with the inverted pyramid logo on it. She tells them they just have to talk to it if they would like to meet her or some other representative of the InvertedPyramid.

They ask if she knows Mina, aka Wilmina Gertz from Marnor. Javica saysshe knows Mina, but how do they know her? They tell them of their adventures on Marnor, which seems to amuse Javica. Can Javica get Mina a message? Of course she can. They want to tell Mina where they are and that they are OK. Javica promises to deliverthe message and get back to them with any reply.

Sun Apr 23, 2017 7:13 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

Friday 6 May

Zothique/Rock of Bral: Horat tells them that the Martian battleship, the Reviler, broke down on its journey to Mars. It went to Alpha Blue, and he suggests that they journey there and he can investigate what is needed to repair it, and see if he can repair it. Alpha Blue is a space alien out post here in the Ring of Smoke. It is pleasure palace and an emporium of unusual goods from not only the Kylindo system, but also the space aliens. Horat suggests that if they can get it repaired, it would be a great escort for their endeavor. The others seem willing and Horat says he will talk with Zudrik on Monday.

Saturday 7 May

Zothique/Rock of BralNote from the realtor Kelkan. Renovations on the house in halfling area will take about 1 month and cost 10k. Rent would be 325 GP/Month. They each throw in 500 GP (3000 GP total) and tell him to get started.

They head over to the House of Tempus to do some sparring with the brothers. They have lots of wooden and padded weapons, and the high priest does a ritual that will turn off the effects of magical things in their sparring arena. They first do a purely physical battle. The brothers are armed with short swords and in chain mail. They do not do much coordination and are easily beaten. Ekkie shows the value of sneaking around and attacking from the rear.

For a second round the brothers gather up long swords and bows, and one is operating as a cleric. The party is a bit less coordinated and the brothers trap Wulfgar as he charges into attack. Lidzira and Minus try using the Influence spell which does not work well in battle. Lidzira's Suggestion works better. Horat reveals one of his gadgets, a Lightning Thrower. It takes out four of the six brothers in one go and they end the fight.

Afterwards the brothers note the value of terrain, in the second round they used the rocks to form a defensive line, but their good tactics were defeated by the tactical surprise of Horat's big weapon which struck in a line and defeated them. They express willingness to do this again, but the party has had enough.

Sun Jun 04, 2017 7:39 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

Saturday 7 May

Zothique/Rock of Bral: Gerag hangs out and trains with the brothers at the House of Tempus.

Minus wants to learn some spells and Lidzira takes him to see Cedric. Cedric is a human living among the halflings, and he clearly knows Lidzira, she is his pupil, and he is willing to teach Minus. He suggests Charm Person, and teaches it to Minus. After, they go to dinner, with Cedric disguising himself as a halfling for the outing in public. He is clearly hiding something, but he does not reveal what. Lidzira tells Minus that it is best not to ask questions, and that Cedric has worked to help the halflings of Bral in return for them helping to keep him hidden from whoever he is hiding from. They talk about Alpha Blue, and Cedric, who seems to have some familiarity tells them that it offers recreation, entertainments, a casino, a brothel, etc. It is not a good idea to try to use magic to gain advantage as they are pretty sophisticated. The games are designed such that the house always wins.

Gerag looks up Miranda the waitress/actress and they have a late night dinner. She tells him that she is very much enjoying working on the play, she clearly has the eye candy role, and knows that she owes it to Gerag. She thanks him profusely that night. He tells her that he is going away, and she tells him to look her up when he gets back.

Horat, Ekkie, and Yumi go shopping for adventuring gear.

Sunday 8 May

Zothique/Rock of Bral: Gerag talks with Large Luigi about Alpha Blue. The star farers built it a hundred years ago or so. It is a well known vacation destination in the Ring of Smoke. It has visual entertainments, a casino, some kind of electronic stimulation that simulates any thing (a holodeck), a brothel, etc. They also have a big shopping center and trading center.

Gerag is paging through the newspapers and notes that for the last month there has been no real news out of the Dragon Empire, i.e. since the report that the Black Dragon Empire failed to turn up at a regular meeting. He notes that they were supposed to have another regular meeting on Friday, two days ago.

Horat and Ekkie go shopping and find some more useful items. They gather five smoke grenades, and five throwable glue traps. They are unable to find any explosives.

Horat visits Morweg's on Minus's advice. There he finds some leather armor made from some advanced star farer fabric (+2). Fortunately Morweg has a suit that fits Horat perfectly for only 150 GP.

Horat spends some time writing letters to free Mars contacts that he knows along their likely route (Alpha Blue, Venus, Mercury, the Moon).

Yumi spends most of the day at the Fireball Alliance training with them.

Article in the Rolling Stone ------------------------------------------------ Civil War Breaks Out in Dragon Empire

Dragon Emperor Mirsoth failed to attend the meeting of the Dragon Empire Council on Friday. The Red Dragons and their Green supporters walked out of the Council declaring the current rulership cycle over, proclaimed the start of a Splendid Synchrony, even though one is not due for some time, and proclaiming the leader of the Red Dragons Shurshalin as Emperor of the Dragon Empire. Fighting has been reported on and in the space around the moon between Reds and Greens versus Blacks and Blues. The leaders of the White and Gold dragons appealed for calm.

As of now fighting has not spread beyond the moon and none of the other factions of the Empire appear to have been drawn into the conflict between the Blacks and Reds. Order in the Empire seems to have broken down with the five factions each seeing to their own interest. It remains to be seen what the effect on commerce this conflict will have. See page 3 for an analysis of the business opportunities that may have arisen with this development. ------------------------------------------------

Ekkie recalls that the Splendid Synchrony was mentioned in the diary of the tentacled horror that they encountered on Port Greely/Tenarath. It was said to be some sort signal for the Outer System dwellers to attack and take over the inner system.

Party wants to see Zudrick and try to convince him to detour to Alpha Blue, and add the Reviler as more protection for the Vaporator. They also want to negotiate for higher pay as things are now more dangerous. A note results in Zudrick inviting them for dinner, and Gideon Marlin, White Dragonspawn and arranger of the transport of the Vaporator to the moon, will also be joining them.

Yumi goes to the Fireball Alliance and puts up a notice for Star Knights to join the trip.

They all show up for dinner and a discussion. Zudrick is convinced that the Dragon Empire Civil War is clearly some sort of trick to steal his Vaporator. Marlin tells them that the Black Dragon Emperor has gone missing, and their rivals the Reds, are challenging them and trying to move up the regular transfer of the Emperorship, which comes around every 25 years or so, by about 10 years. He is not constitutional lawyer, but what is supposed to happen if the Emperor dies is that some sort of election is held to decide on a successor. This nonsense about the Splendid Synchrony is clearly wrong. It is some sort of celestial alignment of the stars and planets. He is not an astronomer, but there are Elves who figure this sort of thing out.

He further tells them that there are 5 big factions in the Dragon Empire. The Red/Green, Black/Blue, White/Silver, Gold/Copper, and Elemental (Fire, Air, Water, Earth). The Emperorship usually passes smoothly among the factions; the others gang up if it does not.

Marlin tells them that the Whites were aware of the growing problems in the Empire and they are not just sending transport, but a troop of guards. At the moment the fighting is between the Blacks/Blues and Reds/Greens and has not spread to a general conflict among all the factions. Mars is especially dangerous due to the interlocking alliances among the Martians and the various Colonies.

Zudrick thinks it is a good idea to add the Martian Battleship to the transport, and thus he is happy to support the trip to Alpha Blue. Marlin mildly objects, but the party is united with Zudrick on the trip.

They want various things from Zudrick for the added danger. Horat suggests that the cargo should also include weapons for the cause of free Mars. Zudrick is way ahead of him and notes that the rest of the cargo space will get packed with whatever he can lay his hands on here on Bral.

Minus and Lidzira want some help for the Halflings of Bral. Zudrick offers to hire some into his operation.

Yumi would like better armor. Zudrick can help with that.

Ekkie, Gerag, and Wulfgar ask for more pay as they all want to go on the journey. Ekkie and Zudrick negotiate and agree to a 20% pay raise.

Tuesday 10 May

Zothique/Rock of Bral: Reika, a friend of Yumi's arrives to work on modernizing Stahleno's programming. They are very successful. Stahleno can now be easily programed by Yumi. She basically knows how to "guard", "defend", or "attack". Reika warns that it is very deep in Stahleno's system to protect Erisans. It may be difficult to get her to obeyorders if they involve harm to Erisans. Be careful.

White dragon cargo train of Wyveryns plus escort arrives on Bral to transport the Water Vaporator to Selene (aka the moon).The train consists of two transports (each three white Wyverns pulling a train car like thing) and a troop of guards, five Wyverns ridden by White Dragon spawn. They are equipped with very long lances, and Marlin reveals that the Wyverns can do some sort breath weapon. Such trains are not uncommon on Bral, but the accompaning guard troop is unusual, but not unexpected given the uncertainty. They have been flying through the Ring of Smoke and will be able to continue after a day of rest and feeding. For journeys through space, they need longer rest.

The party loads up their Skiff, Stahleno, and gear. Also the dwarves load up the Vaporator and a bunch of crates of weapons.

Gerag says good-bye to Miranda, and they part on friendly terms.

Horat visits his Free Mars friends, they toast the cause of Free Mars.

Ring of Smoke: Party stops at a Dragon Empire rest stop to feed and water the Wyverns. No evidence that the Civil War has spread here.

Sunday 15 May Party arrives on Alpha Blue.

Sun Jul 09, 2017 7:13 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

Sunday 15 May Continued

Space Travel to Alpha Blue: Along the trip Yumi inspects the cargo and notices the boxes of Star Farer goods. She talks with Minus, Ekkie, and Lidzira trying to convince them to break into the crates to see what they are. Ekkie convinces her that this is a bad idea, as the Star Farer crates will likely show the tampering. The lizard man guards tell her that the crates were loaded at Bral and they think they are destined for Mars. Yumi confronts Horat accusing him of smuggling dangerous weapons to Mars. He tells her, that yes these are weapons, but that Zudrick is simply a savvy business man who is taking advantage of an opportunity to make large profits due to the disruption caused by the Dragon Empire civil war.

Benajah Crockett, the white dragonspawn captain of the guard troop, and Stormdrulm, the dwarf leading those escorting the Vaporator, seem to know each other, which the party finds a strange coincidence. They talk with the party about the strange circumstances of the Dragon Empire. There are 12 dragon clans each with about 100 dragons, and these folks rule the Empire with an iron fist. They reproduce infrequently as arangements for marriages, very rare, or "procreation agreements," complex and infrequent, mean that the Empire depends on hordes of lizardmen slaves. Most of the staff on board the Wyvern train are slave lizardmen. The dragons mate with sophonts, when they shape shift into humanoid forms, and produce the dragonspawn, like Crockett, who become the trusted lieutenants of an individual dragon's household. They look like small dragons, about 8 feet tall, but with hands. It is not clear what these two want from the party, but they do seem to be feeling them out about something.

They arrive at Alpha Blue which looks like the Las Vegas Strip turned into a space station. They are able to hear the conversation between the Train master and the space station. They are questioned closely about their involvement with the Dragon Empire Civil War, but after swearing their peaceful intentions they are cleared to land. There is a special bay for the space Wyverns. They need to be fed and watered and will be ready to fly to Venus in a day.

The party enters through a security line. A stripper is entertaining those on line and she is handing out hand bills advertising The Gelatinous Cube, an area of adult entertainment of XXX-Sector. As they pass through security they note that their weapons are made to glow. They can keep them, but they continue to glow, or they will be stored here to be returned on their leaving Alpha Blue. A small talking cube on wheels joins them and tells them he is their escort and guide to Alpha Blue. It seems to be not entirely happy with its job, constantly complaining about the tasks that the party sets it to. It escorts them to hotel rooms where the party is able to shower, one of the luxuries not avaiable on the Wyvern Train.

The cube tells them that Alpha Blue is heading towards the Great Barrier Field, a fantastic sight seeing opportunity. The party remembers the exploration of same proposed by Captain Reynolds of the Bela Lugosi, to find the wreck of the Esparto, an ancient Erisan liner carrying refugees from destroyed Eris.

All except Yumi join Horat on a trip to the Martian Battleship, the Reviler. Horat is met by a fellow adherant of Free Mars, Astok of the Martian city state Kostrast. Kostrast is known be be an ally of the White Dragons, and is very wealthy as it controls the well watered Lascaont Valley, the best agricultural land on Mars. Astok is enthused that Horat seems to be working with the White Dragons and suggests that Free Mars should embrace the cause of the White Dragons in the civil war. This is not ideal, but they are better than the facist Red or Black dragons.

Horat inspects the Reviler and realizes that the problem is a small one with the oxygen generation system that is needed for the space journey. He is able to fix it with only a small amount of effort. The Captain is very happy, but tells Horat that the ship will not be ready to depart until the morning, as the crew is enjoying liberty on Alpha Blue.

The party scatters to enjoy the pleasures of Alpha Blue. Most go the shopping center. Minus buys a Violet Wand (a club that does 1d6 damage, and on a hit does a paralyzation attack for 2d6 rounds). It is a common Star Farer police weapon. He and Ekkie also buy a Mortar that launches a variety of shells (rg 100/200/300 - minimum 25). One is a Corrosive Shell that essentially can eat through a barrier. They buy 25 of these. They also buy 25 Glue Trap Shells. These cover a 30 foot radius with a sticky substance that immobilizes those within. They also buy 25 Grenade Shells that deal 2d6 damage in a 20 foot blast radius.

Yumi buys a set of Star Farer Kevlar armor, that is like leather armor, but give AC = 17. At the store that sells high-tech glass she also buys a purple tinted glass dagger and two mirror glass daggers. These are basically regular daggers, but made of an unbreakable glass.

Gerag shops for clothes and buys a garish set of purple, dragon themed lounging pajamas in size 4X. He buys a very nice star farer material dress for Miranda and has it shipped to Bral.

Ekkie and Lidzira each buy a "Blink Belt". It can be activated once an hour and instantly transports one about 10 feet in a random direction. It is smart enough not to embed the wearer inside a solid, but is still rather experimental and prone to unexpected behavior.

Ekkie buys a microscopic drone. This is a small, invisible to the eye, listening and vision device. On a single charge it works for about 10 minutes, and does not range very far (about 50 feet) from its control unit, but it does display and listen to what it can observe. It can fly and obviously penetrate the very smallest of openings.

Minus buys a Deep Memory Retrival Unit. It is meant to be able to access the deep racial DNA memory of the wearer. It is highly experimental, and Minus has to sign a waver that tells him that the memories accessed may not be clear or make sense.

Yumi finds an improved repair kit. Ekkie tails her and notes that Yumi gets this item from a robot repair shop.

Yumi then visits a fetish shop and buys whip and a dominatrix outfit. She is given a card for Sinful Syndee's, a BDSM brothel in the XXX-Sector. She goes to visit, and after a drink has no further memory of the evening.

Horat goes to the Ball Court. It is a game like a cross between Raquet Ball and Hockey, and there is furious betting on the matches. Horat is mainly a spectator and bets only lightly. He enjoys the matches.

Minus and Lidzira go to the Gelatinous Cube in XXX-Sector and have a good time.

Gerag returns to the lounge to smoke cigars, drink brandy and enjoy the view. A man stumbles towards him, slurring his words, "I love you man, I love you man, I love you..., I love..., I..." and collapses on Gerag's lap. A beautiful woman appears asking Gerag to help get Leonard back to her quarters. She introduces herself as Natalie, and promises to make the inconvenience worth Gerag's while if he will help her and Leonard. Gerag picks up Leonard and follows Natalie into XXX-Sector, passing through the doors of the Pleasent Memory, another brothel, to her room. She directs Gerag to put Leonard on the bed, and once there she pulls off Leonard's shirt to reveal that he is covered in tatoos. Gerag thinks better of the entire situation and leaves as Natalie's attention is on Leonard.

Ekkie uses her new drone to spy on Yumi's quarters while she is away. She does not find anything unusal except that there is no food, and that Yumi has a set of plastic repair band-aid type things and her kit. She then goes to the spa and is pampered.

In the casino Horat encounters a person who is white on the right side and black on the left side. The White/Black offers Horat a tentacled idol that he claims he bought in a pawn shop. It has magical powers to summon servants of the Outer Gods, it is claimed. He offers it to Horat for 6000 GP, which Horat cannot afford. The White/Black says that perhaps Horat can buy the idol if he offers the head of a Black/White who is also here on Alpha Blue. Horat collects Gerag and they search the station for the Black/White, but are unable to find him.

Monday 16 May

Alpha Blue: A note from the Captain of the Reviler. It will be ready to leave by noon.

Yumi awakens the next morning with an extra 2000 GP. The little box tells her that she is fully booked with appointments at Sinful Syndee's through the morning. She cancels some, but not all, and plans to visit the Star Knight Temple here. Syndee, the madam at Sinful Syndee's, tells Yumi what a great job she did last night, and that she could be a "star" here on Alpha Blue. Yumi tells Syndee that she has to travel, but will be happy to visit the next time she is here. Syndee is a bit disappointed, but notes that rarity means that she can charge a higher price.

After servicing a couple of clients, Yumi goes to the Star Knight Temple here. The religion believes in a all pervading Life Force that Knights can tap into for power. Star Knights can use the power of the Force for good. Void Knights, the bitter enemies of the Star Knights, use the dark side of the Force for ill. Another Star Knight, they are fairly rare, is here. He is named Qaria and tells Yumi that he is working as a guard on an interstellar expedition where travel takes weeks rather than the days it takes to travel around a planetary system like Kylindo. There is always work for a Star Knight as while the Star Farers, a polyglot group of races, do not have overt wars there is intense commercial competiton, which sometimes is carried out by other means, and there is always the frontier. Kylindo is a frontier world, and there are expeditions for exploration and discovery frought with danger.

Horat and Gerag spend time trying to find the White/Black and/or the Black/White. Horat stops in at a shop and has them work up a Black/White head that he stuffs in a bag with some ketchup. Gerag is not sure whether to be disgusted or amused.

Sure you can buy your own robot assistant, the little box tells them. It can even have an obnoxious personality. It costs about 1000 GP, but it won't be very useful away from the Starfarer areas as it gets most of its value by tapping into an interstellar information net. They forego buying one.

All arrive to journey to Venus on the Wyvern Train. It will take 3 days, and since the journey is through space the Wyverns will need 3 days of recovery before going on to Mars. The Reviler joins them on the trip.

Ekkie intends to spy on the White dragonspawn and dwarf to try to figure out what they are up to.

Sun Jul 09, 2017 7:14 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

Monday 16 May

In transit between Alpha Blue and Venus: Horat tells them of the note he found. It was with his fake Black/White head on some black paper written in White, "The Starfarers know you have something they lost. Be vigilent as you travel to the Cylinder. They will be hunting for you in space to take it back." There is some discussion on what it is the Starfarers have lost. Yumi is certain it is the crates of weapons, while the others focus on the Vaporator. They tell Crockett who tells them the point of maximum danger for them is when they leave the Ring of Smoke and enter space. They will have wear bulky space suits and The Reviler will have to button up. As they move further into the system the Wyverns will get stronger, and be less attractive targets.

Horat spends some time jury rigging some escape suits, there are none, and manages to get three ready from materials he is able to find.

Tuesday 17 May

In transit between Alpha Blue and Venus: The train is attacked by two Star Farer Destroyers. They seem to be faster and more manuveurable, but do not have as much fire power as the Reviler. The White Wyverns have a short range icy breath weapon and if they grapple can physically tear apart their targets.

The Star Farer Destroyers appear to the starboard rear. The Wyverns are in front, the two cargo Wyvern teams are in the middle, and the Reviler brings up the rear. The Wyverns and the Reviler turn to starbord, while the Destroyers turn to port to try to slip by the Wyverns and the Reviler to chase down the lumbering cargo trains. The Destroyers manage to slip by the Wyverns with only one icy blast striking home, but the Reviler manages to turn and fire a couple of broadsides of its two large Radium Rays and the shorter ranged Lightning Guns doing a great deal of damage to one of the Destroyers.

The Starfarers seemed to have not counted on the presence of the Reviler and break off, leaving the convoy to reform and continue on to Venus. One of the Wyverns was hit by a Photon Torpedo, but is not seriously hurt.

Wednesday 17 May

In transit between Alpha Blue and Venus: Ekkie uses her microscopic drone and listens in as the White Dragonspawn Crocket and the Dwarf Storm. They are discussing their plan to aid the forces of Free Mars to steal the Vaporator on Mars.

The party talks to them and tells them they would like to join their effort. In fact they should blame the loss of the Vaporator on the Elves, as no one likes them. Crockett and Storm love this idea and indicate that they are part of group seeking to change things in the Dragon Empire. The group includes some Dragons who think that the Empire should be more democratic. They have decided that during the disruption caused by the Dragon Empire Civil War that the cause of Free Mars is a good bet to make things better. At least at the moment the Free Mars movement looks like the best way to a better future.

Gerag pulls Ekkie aside and says that he does not trust these two. Why is the party involved at all if there was a plan to loose the Vaporator? Ekkie reminds him that they were hired by Zudrick, who may be ignorant of the plans by Crockett and Storm. Gerag also wonders if Horat and his devotion to Free Mars is real. Ekkie will see what she can find out over the next few days.

Thursday 19 May

Venus: White Dragon Wyvern train arrives on Venus. As they approach the planet they are met by ships of the Imperial Elven Space Navy. These ships look like wooden sailing vessels with sun silk sails and gravity defying lift wood. The designs are beautiful with many of ships looking like birds or butterflies. They use organic weapons firing alcohol fueled flying torpedoes, fire bombs, and short ranged fire projectors.

They closely question the train, but give them clearance to land on Venus. As they head in they can see the planet is shrouded in clouds but there are a few large mountainous regions rising above the clouds. On the largest is a large central plain, with a sparkling lake in the center. A large city is on its shore. The lake is called Green Lake and the city is Carmenta. They land amid a great deal of activity with many Elven Warships visible, and large number of Elven Marines marching about. The party goes to the city, the dragons and Martians stay behind to take care of and keep watch on the Wyverns and the Reviler. They face at least a three day stay here for the Wyverns to recover from their space journey.

The city is very beautiful with canals and Elven organic architecture blending into the land scape. They are confined to the Foreigner Quarter where they see Starfarers, Dwarves, Humans, etc. It looks much like Bral, but there are many more Elves. The Elves seem to keep Lizardmen and Halfling slaves to do the heavy, menial, and dirty work. They stay in a nice hotel and enjoy an elegant Elven meal which Gerag and Ekkie find completely inadequate.

Horat breaks off and at a fast food joint called Amalur's and meets his Free Mars contact, who is Karad of Talsinth. Talsinth a city state on Mars whose last ruler died and left the city state to his underage son, but appointed an Elven regent. The Elves rule the city state for their own benefit. Karad thinks the Dragon Empire Civil War is a great opportunity to strike at the Elven colonies on Mars while the Elves are distracted supporting their Black Dragon allies. He is aware of their mission, and asks what he can do to help. Horat tells him of the entire plan, and asks him to spread the word that the Elves have stolen the Vaporator while it was here on Venus. He says he can do that.

Saturday 21 May

Front page news story in the New Moon Express ----------------------------------------------------- Dwarf Attempt to Join Civil War Turned Back

Elements of the White, Gold, Silver, Copper and the Elemental Dragon clans space forces intercepted a large fleet of Dwarven steam rockets violating the Imperial decree closing space around Kylindo, Selene, and the Dragonstars to non-Dragon travellers.

In a one sided battle the Dwarven fleet was annihilated by the combined Dragon Empire forces. Count Percival Cook, Lord Commander of the Gold forces, said, "We may not agree on much these days, but no dragon wants to see outside forces try to influence the internal affairs of the Empire. When we got word of the incursion we flew to the sound of the fighting. It turned into a rout, as Fighting Wyvern's from the other clans joined in. We all feasted on Dwarven flesh." Cyrus Oliver, a White Congressman, concurred with Lord Cook's account adding, "This simply proves that we are stronger when we all stand together. I repeat my call for the Reds and Blacks to come back the Council, follow the Constitution, and allow us to choose a new Emperor. This stupid fighting only helps our common enemies." Niwa Yukisuke, Koshaku of the Water Dragons, enimatically added, "The Superior Person examines the nature of virtue and makes himself a standard that can be followed."

There was no comment from the Dwarven Embassy here on Selene and representatives of the Red and Black dragon clans. Other attempts to independently verify the reports have been unsuccessful. Bryxina Olacarin the Chief Astronomer of the Selene Obsevatory reported that there is new astronomical object in orbit around Kylindo near Selene. She described it as a large clould of ice crystals consistent with the destruction of a large number of Dwarven Steam Rockets in space. The observatory has mapped the orbit and supplied it to the Imperial Space Guard and the Port Authority of Selene to help travelers avoid this hazard to navigation. She declined to speculate on the nature of the cloud, but she did the use the term "Battle of the Cloud" in our discussion.

This unexpected turn of events reveals the dangers and unpredictability of the present course of action taken by the leaders of The Empire. The door has been opened to outside influence, and the Red and Black clans seemed to have achieved what had seemed impossible only a few short weeks ago of uniting the other clans to work together for the good of The Empire. ----------------------------------------------------- News in The Absolute Story ----------------------------------------------------- Emperor Announces the Closing of Venusian Space

Emperor Idrinian announces that due to the rising dangers caused by Civil War in the so called Dragon Empire that space travel in the region of Venus has been suspended. Only those on official Imperial business in Imperial vessels are allowed to leave or approach the surface of Venus.

Further all non-Elves currently on Venus must immeadiately report to the nearest office of the Imperial Customs and Immigration as soon as possible. Failure to comply will result in death. -----------------------------------------------------

The party is stunned realizing that they are stuck on Venus. Yumi immeadiately wants to go to the ships and release Stahleno, but the others restrain her. Horat sends Octo to spy things out at the space port. It comes back saying that all the non-Elven ships are grounded, and the Wyverns and the Reviler have been pushed into a hanger. The White Dragon crew and Martians seemed to have been pressed into service as ground crew in the Carmenta space port.

Colonel Carafaren turns up to talk to them. He is the commander of the Space Port and tells the party that he has orders to make all the foreigners "useful" during this time of their confinement on Venus. He does not know how long this will last. Clearly he says they are not cut out to harvesting lift wood trees, tending sun silk worms, or operating sun silk looms.

Perhaps they would like to join the Emperor's Foreign Legion? Those who loyally serve the Emperor for five years can become citizens of the Empire or upon spilling the blood of an enemy of the Emperor. No questions are asked of those joining the Legion, and the Legion will happily provide you with a new identity. Right now there is large signing bonus and the term of service to gain citizenship has been reduced to three years. Colonel Carafaren offers personal assurances that those signing up now, will soon have opportunities to face the Emperor's enemies. Ekkie notes that no matter how long before getting citizenship there is a five year term of service. No one seems interested much to Carafaren's dissappointment.

Maybe they would like to deal with some rebels? He mentions the ruins of something called Eryx. This is a name that some of the party remember. It was in Sansa's book on the Martian-Eris War as a location where ancient Erisan gate technology might be found. Thus the party, responds positively to this "opportunity." Carafaren seems pleased with that, and tells him he will detail one of his aids to assist them in this endeavor.

After dinner an Elf called Vamear turns up. He is going to help and accompany them on their mission to Eryx. He tells the Eryx is near the village of Longbrdige which is just on the edge of the range just above the cloud layer. Eryx dates from the time of the Lizards when the Snake People and Lizard Men ruled. It was one of their temples or something. When their rule ended Elven sorcerors explored and plundered the place. It was then abandoned.

Escaped Lizardmen and Halflings have moved in and have proclaimed a Free Republic. The Lizardmen and Halflings here in the city, are not slaves but indentured servants. The Lizardmen live below the cloud layer where there are jungles, deserts, lava lakes, etc. as it gets hotter and hotter the lower one goes. They come above the clouds to work usually for a set period of time and then get a lump payment at the end. Mostly they work harvesting Drift Wood and tending the Sun Silk Worm Bushes. The Halflings are intermingled with the Elves and work harvesting the Sun Silk Worms, producing Sun Silk, and in food production. There is usually a Halfling and Lizardman quarter in cities on Venus. The folks at Eryx are disturbers of the peace, they rob the nearby villages, and are enemies of the Emperor.

He has a file on Eryx. Just recently, which for an elf means decades ago, someone called Nigel the Elf led an expedition to Eryx. There is a fragment of his diary,

"...tracked the energies ll the way to the southern edge. According to the map it is near the village of Longbridge. The village is near the base of a mountain called the Firestorm Peak, which is the first of a series of peaks and features extending to the south below the clould layer. My studies indicate that the flux of magical and particle radiation emanate from the within the ominously named mountain; this is definitely the place described in the scrolls I recently unearthed. What is troubling is that the cyclical nature of the radiation indicate that the Vast Gate was still focused when it was abandoned so long ago. What gives me more cause to worry are the localized contradictions in reality itself which arise whenever this cycle reaches its apex...although I have spent the last twenty years of my life researching this location, it is possible I have misled myself about the true dangers of the forces which I have sought to understand. I fear that I may be forced to use the three Crystal Components I have so laborously gathered from the Elder Elven ruins to end a threat which none are yet aware of, save myself. My friends of old shall be my companions on the journey of discovery and danger. Derek Warcaller, Wellfast Brightblade, and Quaren Ael Drim will be ecstatic to learn..."

Nigel was obviously insane opines Vamear, and someone had the good idea to make him useful by encouraging him to explore Eryx.

The party wants to collect all their weapons and the Skiff for a visit to Eryx. There is some argument about whether to bring Stahleno, but in the end they decide that since Stahleno is likely to freak out their Elven hosts she should remain dormant. Vamear helps them gather their supplies and is amazed by their Skiff. Most travel not by air goes via giant lizard pack trains. The Skiff will make a few day journey to just one. They see the White Dragon crew and Martians of the Reviler, working in the Space Port. Vamaer points out that the Emperor has ordered that all foreigners on Venus must be made useful. There is much activity at the port, but they cannot tell if it is out of the ordinary or not.

Sunday 22 May

Venus: They leave early this morning for Longbridge. They pass through many mountain valleys noting that most of them are either Liftwood Tree or Sun Silk Worm Bush plantations with hordes of Lizardmen and Halflings toiling in the fields. They do see the occaional community of Halflings along their trip.

As they move down the slopes there are fewer big plantations and more of the available land is given over to food production. Longbridge is clearly the end of the line, and it looks to be a small, poor place. There is one city hall, a public house with rooms to rent, and little else. While Vamear goes in to present his credentials to the local authorities, Gerag wanders about and notes that really looks like a poor place that is barely hanging on. There are a number of empty and run down houses, and the animals look scrawny. Horat uses SCIENCE! on some animals and notes that there is something off about them, but he cannot figure out exactly what. They seem strangely listless and unpredictably aggresive.

Vamear returns telling him that he has secured the cooperation of the locals. They have rooms at the local public house, the Greenbriar Inn, and he learns that they are aware of the rebels at Eryx. They do not raid Longbridge as there is little to steal, but they there are a couple of big plantations a few miles away in good mountain valleys that have had persistant trouble. The mountain has been acting up more than usual lately, again for Elves this may mean for the last few years. Every few weeks fire wreaths its peak and touches off forest fires in the dry forest of its slopes. These do not spread far due to the fact that the fire runs into wetter vegetation at the cloud layer further down the slopes. The mountain does look rather ominous, bare and blackened as compared to its neighbors to the south that are forested.

At dinner, which is a hearty but simple root vegetable stew, they learn that the locals know where Eryx is. There is a disused road, now not much more than a path, that is blocked by gates that are as strong as steel but are transparent. These lead to a dark tunnel that plunges under the Mountain. The locals avoid the place as it is creepy. No one knows how to get passed the gates and explore the tunnel beyond. There is some dim memory of Nigel the Elf and his friends. They disappeared after saying they were headed to explore the ruins of Eryx. Come to think of it, soon after that, the mountain started acting up.

Sun Jul 23, 2017 7:35 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

Sunday 22 May Continued

Venus, Longbridge: Gerag tries to buy the favor of the locals by paying for drinks. He learns nothing. An elf farm wife called Ylyndar hits on Horat, but he rebuffs her. Ekkie eave drops on the common room in the Greenbriar Inn after the party has retired. The big talk among the locals is that the local militia has been called up, and within the last few days has marched off.

Monday 23 May

Venus, Longbridge: The party plus Vamear heads off to Eryx in their flying skiff. They can clearly tell that it was once a good road, but it has become over grown and cracked. They get to the tunnel leading into the mountain and note that it is closed off by crystaline gates. Horat uses SCIENCE! and notes that the gates are made of see-through metal called Nephelium which is quite valuable. Gerag's infravision can see it if not being overwhelmed by regular light. Horat is able to make the gates move with his magnet ring, but they can find no way to undo the bar that holds the gate closed. Gerag gives Horat his Plasma Torch and they are able to cut through the bar and open the gate. Yumi rushes into the tunnel and steps on a caltrop made of Nephelium. The wide tunnel seems to full of them. Horat uses his ring to gather up 13 of these annoying, but valuable, things.

They travel down the tunnel in the skiff, until they see a stone wall blocking the way. It rises up about 15 feet leaving only a five foot gap below the ceiling. Horat sends his robot Octo up to explore, and it is hit and knocked aside by a lizard man wielding a pole arm. Horat calls out that they have come to over throw tyranny and trade. He throws in a starfarer food pack. This seems to break the impasse and Horat, Ekkie, and Yumi are invited in to trade.

They see four lizardmen guarding the wall and note that the wall is a later, rougher construction than the main passage. A lizardman leads them deeper into the complex. Beyond the wall they see an enclosure with four more lizardmen, and then an arch way with four more lizardman guards. They turn right passing through a very narrow corridor, a barracks with 10 or so beds, another right into a corridor, and then left into a very large room where there is a bunch of noise.

They are on the upper level of a giant under ground market place. The lizard man leading them talks to some halflings who are patroling the upper level. The halflings are riding giant spiders. The lizardman shows them the food package and the halflings say that they would welcome trading for surface world food stuffs. Horat has a few more, and they are invited below to trade.

Below are many market stalls selling all sorts of things. There are roughly 20 stalls and a hundred or so people of various races circulating among them. There is a squad of lizardmen guards on the lower floor and another squad of spider riding halflings on the upper balcony that surrounds the market. They see Dark Elves, Dark (Red, Grey are other names) Dwarves, and other races that they barely recognize.

Horat talks with Iscath, a Dark Dwarf, who is selling the large riding spiders that he calls Steeders. Horat asks after Nigel the Elf, and Iscath says that as far as he knows, he is in the inner part of the sanctum. One of Nigel's friends is here, in charge of the market. Horat tries out a spider.

Yumi talks to Yhayos, who is unusual looking like a cross between a dwarf and halfling, who deals in spices and a sort of bean paste. Yhayos tells Yumi that his people control some caverns in the under world where some radiation nourishes the plants that produce the beans. The paste is a staple of the under world. She buys some Under Bean Paste and some Deep Pepper which she is told makes Elves sneeze. Nigel the Elf is the boss of the inner part. Talk to the guards if she wants to see Nigel.

Ekkie is distressed to see that there is a goblin slave dealer here. She also notes that there are some Halflings and Lizardmen selling items made of Nephelium and some raw Nephilium sheets. She guesses that Nephilium is mined and manufactured here.

They meet again and approach the Halfling guards and say that they want to see the person in charge to arrange to sell weapons, Horat mentions Dwarven Steam Rifles, and surface food. They mention that Wellfast, a name Ekkie recognizes as one of Nigel the Elf's companions on his expedition to explore Eryx, is busy on Market Day, and they should come back tomorrow to make such arrangements.

They are led back to the party and all return to the village. Vamear is surprised by what they have seen. It does not sound like Eryx poses much of a threat, and in fact there seems to be a thriving under world society. Perhaps they can be persuaded to join with the Emperor and help prepare for the Time of Troubles which is coming soon. All the Emperor does is to prepare for the Time of Trouble, and it would be better for everyone if they would simply support the Emperor in his great work. He does think that more exploration would be good to discover the extent of the underground world.

Others note that this seems to much like they knew on Kylindo. There are Dark Elves, and the Wulfgar tells them that Dwarves have legends about the Dark/Red/Grey Dwarves and those other creatures, called Gnomes, who live deep under ground like the Dark Elves. Does this mean that the underworlds of the various planets of the Kylindo system are some how connected? They do note that they got transported to the Purple Planet when they went deep underground on Kylindo. Heads explode.

Talking among themselves they decide to gather some food stuffs to trade to get access deeper underground. There are many fruit available as the climate is semi-tropical. They gather up grapes and apples at bargain prices.

Yumi talks with lizardmen working at the Inn. They mainly take care of the animals, pack and draft lizards and a few horses. They eat meat, mostly pigs which thrive in the lush forest. She seems to be trying to guage their desire for revolution, but they are not terribly interested. Yumiis disgusted calling them "Sheeple."

Tuesday 23 May

Venus, Longbridge: They head back early the next day and get to the gates. They find that they have been repaired and there is no response to their knocking. The Plasma Torch is no longer working to open the gates. The bar seems to have been altered in such a way as the Plasma Torch can no longer get to it. They try one of Ekkies acid bombs, but Nephilium seems to be resistant. Eventually Horat uses his Lightning Spear to smash open the gates.

They head down to the wall where it is omniously silent. Eventually they manage to get a rope with a hook over the wall and Gerag climbs up. He is met by Lizardmen who attack him with their pole arms. Horat is screaming about trade, tossing apples and grapes over the wall, while Gerag is getting attacked by the Lizardmen and four crossbow armed Halflings atop the fortification behind the wall. Horat flies in and annihilates the second line of lizardmen with one of his high tech weapons. The first line of lizard men begin fleeing. Gerag followed by the others, Ekkie has trouble getting up the wall, charges at the fortification. Horat uses his confusion ray on the Halflings, it is not terribly effective, only two fall, while the others charge up in support of Gerag. Horat again uses his high tech weapon to clear the line of Lizardmen manning the archway. In the end they have captured one Halfling, one Lizardman fled disappearing going left beyond the archway, and leaving 11 dead Lizardmen and three dead Halflings. Beyond the archway the original tunnel continues forward, but has been filled with rocks.

Vamear, who was the last over the wall, viewing the carnage, asks them again if they want to join the Foreign Legion. He would put in a good word for them to be in Special Operations.

They contemplate how to continue their exploration in the face of hostile reaction today.

Sun Aug 27, 2017 6:55 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

23 May Tuesday - Continues Venus, Ruins of Eryx

They talk with the captive Halfling who is called Munderic. He tells them that Wellfast ordered them not to have any contact with the surface dwellers which is why the party was met with hostility. They share with him some grapes and apples, which he says are good - much better than Under Bean Paste. Ekkie uses her Microdrone to scout ahead. She sees the blocked main passage and the two passages off to the left. They go down the first of these, following Horat's plan of always going left.

They pass through what is obviously lizard man barracks, leave a glue trap behind, and pass into natural caverns. They encounter three oversized skeletons with green glowing gems inside them. The gems fire off a green fire blast and the skeletons fight with large, rusted swords. Ekkie puts down a glue trap and one of the giant skeletons gets trapped. At one point Gerag grapples the gem and pulls it free from the horror. He is reminded of the Green Thing back on Kylindo, and smashes the gems once the three horror are dispatched. They recall that Wulfgar is a tank.

Continuing into the caverns, always turning left, they enter a room where there is large rock with a skeletal hand reaching out from beneath. Minus searches around and finds a rotted pouch with a piece of parchment in it. Reading:

...the Alienist has reached the Font of power under Firestorm. When next the Vast Gate opens, Madreus may command unclean powers the likes of which could drive men mad. This Vast Gate is the source of his power, reaching as it does into a realm so incomprehensibly far from our own that the entities there may not abide by the laws of reality as we understand them. The only way to kill this threat is to kill Madreus and refocus the Gate to another location, using the three Crystal Components which we so ardously gathered from across the system. To reach his inner complex many obstacles must first be overcome, the first of which is lizardman complex. However research has revealed that far more insidious creatures lie deeper...

They continue on and find a room with two doors. One of which they realize leads back to the entrance hall, and the second is a short worked corrider leading to another door. They spike shut the door leading back to the entrance hall and put a glue trap in front of the other.

They continue on and at a hairpin curve they encounter a black, incopereal thing with red glowing eyes. Gerag, Yumi, Minus and the halfling captive suddenly disappear. The others struggle with the undead thing and manage to dispatch it. During the battle Ekkie attempts to hit the thing with her dagger, is sure she scored a hit, but no damage was done. She realizes that such undead things can only be hit by magical or technological weapons.

Meanwhile the others find themselves dumped into a small room with two stone coffins. Two similar undead attack them. Gerag tries to flee away by smashing through a door out of the room, and manages to avoid falling into a pit trap that opens beneath him on the other side of the door. Minus and the halfling also flee the room, leaving Yumi to fight the undead things. The halfling flees, while Gerag and Minus do their best to help Yumi and kill the things. They manage to kill them. Minus has Gerag lower him into the pit and he finds some coins, gathers the gold, a dagger, a quiver of 12 arrows, and two potions that look much like healing potions.

Ekkie has been using their Starfarer communicators and the split party is in touch. The first bunch holes up in the room with the big rock. The others first follow the path of the fleeing halfling, even though that he turned right, but using the strength of the communicator signal, they are able to find the rest of the party. Some healing is thrown as the party is a bit battered.

Sun Aug 27, 2017 6:57 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

23 May Tuesday - Continues Venus, Ruins of Eryx

Once reunited they confront Vamear on his combat abilities. He tells, that it would have not made sense to send someone unable to take care of themselves into these ruins. He has a hold out bow, and long sword that he wears in a well hidden scabbard on his back. He also has some throwing darts.

After regrouping Ekkie sends her microdrone ahead and they see penned scorpions. They head up to the scorpions and spend a large amount of time killing them with missle fire. Just as they arefinishing up a troop of spider mounted halflings comes from behind and begins attacking. A ragged defense line forms, and Lidzira casts a Hypnotic Pattern which mesmerizes the halflings blunting the attack. At the other end, where Gerag had moved to watch the opening, a squad of lizardmen appear. A couple of grenades are tossed, a glue trap deployed, and the two group of attackers retreat leaving some dead halflings, spiders, and a lizardman behind. Quickly dead bodies are pilled over the glue, Ekkie loots some treasure secreted in a giant scorpion egg sac, smashing the eggs, and the party continues always turning left. She has a taken a whistle made out of the transparent metal Nephilium, but when she brings it near her key, the key gets hot and glows red. Horat gathers up two scorpion venom sacs, in the interest of science.

They enter into a large, irregular room where there are manacles set into the walls at the three entrances. There are bones piled near the manacles. They also note that the floor is alive with small insects. As they cautiously make their way through the room heading towards the exit on the left, four much largers centipede like insects emerge out of the floor and attack. In the battle with the horrors Horat and Vamear are paralyzed, but the party prevails. They note that as Horat and Vamear are motionless the insects begin crawling up their feet and being chewing on flesh. They drag them out of the big room into a section with a rocky floor. They wait a bit until the poison wears off. Wulfgar drinks one of the healing potions and it cures most of his damage. Horat gathers two venom sacs from the large insects.

They make their way down a long passage that all can tell is sloping down. It gets very dark, much darker than anything they have experienced as they go down the passage. As they debate the wisdom of this they see bright light up ahead. They enter into a cross roads room via a ramp that enters into the cieling and slopes down to the floor. There are signs proclaiming this to be The Inn of the Flaming Pool. There are many oil burning lanterns and the cave is brightly illuminated. Besides the Inn, which seems to be a small eatery with a few rooms above, there are three wide passages proclaiming Khurn Falder, Szrthilin, and Zimzaulentan, and a set of crude stone doors. They are met by Folcard Shortwick, apparently the patriarch of the Shortwick clan which runs the Inn. He welcomes them, telling them that this is a safe refuge, and they are welcome to stay at the Inn.

As he leads them into the Inn they see members of the Shortwick clan, including Sam, an older boy whose left arm is unnaturally twisted. Folcard tells him that he and his wife left Eryx as it was too creepy for them. They met the Pech, called Pollachron, who watches over this place. The Pech look much like gnomes, but they have very long arms and their skin seems made of stone. Their eyes glow brightly. Pollachron seems to be made of white granite and its eyes glow blue. They see it moving about, and note that it seems to pass through stone walls as if they were not there. Folcard tells them that the Pech are creatures of the Underdark and seem to be devoted to maintaining life in the Underdark. They adopt cross roads, or similar important places, and all know not to bother them. If attacked or killed then bad things start happening, earthquakes, tunnel collapses, etc.

Here there is the connection to Eryx where surface food is available, the Drow, the Grey Dwarves, and the Gnomes come to the market at Eryx to trade. The two most important things in the Underdark are food and light. Looking closely at the oil resevoirs they note that the oil is clear, but floating in it are iridescent flakes. The oil resevoirs are entrancing with the floating flakes constantly changing colors in never ending patterns...

They find themselves in spartan rooms on the second floor; there seem to be no other guests. They begin discussing payment with Folcard, they discover that their gold is not of much value here, perhaps a tenth of its value on the surface, but that their apples and grapes are very valuable. They trade those for a night's stay, dinner and breakfast, a couple of high quality lanterns (made by the Grey Dwarves) and enough oil and traveling food for two days.

The oil comes from a pool beyond those stone doors, but the place is chaotic with flames that do not seem to consume, and it is dangerous to creatures of flesh. Sam's arm was hurt down there. They rely on the Pech to gather oil for them; what is there does not seem to bother the stone creature. Beyond the burning pool is a passage that leads to a room covered in words and another passage that leads to a bridge of rock lighter than water. There are passages beyond the bridge, but they have never gone over the bridge as it crumbles when walked upon. The other passages lead to a gnome farming village, Zimzaulentan, on the edge of the gnome controlled region of the Underdark, a Grey Dwarf small town, Khurn Falder, beyond which are the deep mines of the Grey Dwarves, and a Drow town, Szrthilin, which is on a navigable underground river and connects to the rest of Underdark.

Left alone they discuss what to do. Vamear suggests that they should return to the surface. This is not a nest of rebels, but rather a whole civilization. They need to report back to the agents of the Empire so that the Underdark can acknowledge the primacy of the Emperor and join in the Emperor's Great Work. Others, led by Yumi, want to go deeper into the Underdark to perhaps find a connection with the Underdark on the other worlds. Ekkie is not terribly thrilled by this as Goblins seem to a slave race in the Underdark. Others note that they cannot simply walk out as they are unlikely to get a friendly welcome back in Eryx. Perhaps they should go to the Grey Dwarves, get some helpful weapons, learn more about possible connections to the other worlds, and then return out of Eryx. After all their goal is to get the cargo in the Wyvern Train and on the Reviler to Mars and the Moon.

Vamear says that if they go back to the surface he would use his influence to allow them to fly to Mars. They have made a valuable and important discovery for the Emperor. They decide to travel to the Grey Dwarf town, weapon up, and then return to the surface.

Dinner is a mixture of Under Bean Paste, mushrooms of various sorts, roasted lizard meat, and fried insect parts. They see about 10 Shortwicks serving them and cleaning up. Dinner is filling, but pretty bland. They are suspicious, and set watches as the lamps are dimmed, and Underdark Night sets in...

Mon Jan 01, 2018 8:10 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

25 May Wednesday Venus, Inn of the Flaming Pool

Over night Minus is visited by Pollachron the Pech in his dreams. He talks of his mission, to preserve and support life in the Underdark, hinting that without the efforts of the Pech that the Underdark would die and become steriile. He hints it is a mission of the creators of the Underdark, and also that Ekkie has a valuable thing in the magical Whistle made from Nephilum. Pollachron gathers the oil from the Flaming Pool that the Shortwicks trade to make this place a refuge and travel nexus for the Underdark. The place is dangerous for creatures of the flesh. It is part of his mission.

Upon awakening Horat uses his Tri-Chorder to look at the Whistle and it is IDed as a device that raises the dead to create minor undead, such as zombies or skeletons. Over breakfast the Shortwicks say that Pollachron is here unpredicitability, talks to them in their dreams too, but keeps them well supplied with the strange oil.

They travel to the Grey Dwarf town of Khurn Falder. It takes them most of the day as they move cautiously through the Underdark. It is very dark and all their forms of night vision do not work. There is no light for twilight vision or the star farer goggles. The infravision of Gerag and Ekkie ceases to work as everything is the same temperature. They have to rely on the light of the oil burning lanterns. The way is smooth although it is clearly a natural cave. Wulfgar tells them it is clear that the floor has been smoothed to ease travel and that this way is sloping down.

Eventually they see light ahead and hear a trickle of water. They enter a natural cave with a stream crossing it, and a small guard post manned by five grey dwarves. They greet the party and ask what their business is here. They say they want to trade and seek help against the denizens of Eryx. This intrigues the guards, and they are invited in. As they pass over the ford of the stream they find a bottle with a message in it washed up on the shore. It has a message within that says "Too late!"

At the back end of the cave there is a large worked corridor with what looks to be a few wooden doors off of it. At the end are stairs down. These leads to a large domed cavern where there is a town square. There are shops selling edible mushrooms, wood-like items made from some sort of large mushrooms stalks, and carved art items made of the same. They are also selling steeders, the medium sized spiders that are used as small pack animals and mounts for halflings or gnomes. There are also gear for steeders, harnesses, saddles, saddle bags, etc. There is meat from giant snails, and the giant snail shells are used in the art too. The merchants speak common, but many of the others do not. Their are a number of goblin slaves performing menial tasks. Yumi trades her Alpha Blue t-shirt and 200 GP for a steeder and some saddle bags. They are fascinated by the manufactured fabric of the shirt.

There is much silver, gold and many gems as incidental decorations. This seems to agree with the low value of such in the Underdark.

Eventually they are introduced to Urgan, the local Grey Dwarf leader. He tells them that Eryx used to be theirs. They are the ones who bricked up the passage to the inner sanctum of Eryx as there is bad, dangerous chaos magic there. No one should go to the inner sanctum of Eryx. They developed the mine for Nephilum. They were attacked by a group of surface dwellers who used powerful magic to break through to the inner sanctum. They came out armed with that chaos magic and drove the Grey Dwarves from Eryx. Then they brought in more surface dwellers, and set up the big market, which takes place on Sundays. The Grey Dwarves participate, but burn to redress the stain on their honor and retake the Nephilum mines of Eryx. Urgan invites them to his home, but laments that today is a holy day, the clerics are sweeping the town for purity, and no alcohol can be consumed.

He takes them down another level where there is a large multi-level gallery where there are many dwellings, like apartments, looking out onto the gallery. His dwelling is a large one on the bottom floor. There are some guards, and large troop of goblin slaves who begin preparing dinner for the guests. There is a variety of food, lots of unusual mushrooms and snail meat, but as is becoming familar it is rather bland. Urgan tells them that salt is common in the Underdark, other flavorings and spices are rare and valuable, mainly coming from contacts with the surface such as Eryx.

They decide to join forces and attack Eryx. There are some loud gongs, which signals the end of the day, and Urgan calls for Mushroom Ale, which is enjoyed by all, but not to excess. The warleader Azthen turns up, and says that the Purity day went well, only Joe and Charlie were taken. Urgan and Azthen take them to what can only be called a barn on the first level. They tell them that the problem of Eryx is that there is a fortification guarding its connection with the Underdark. There is a fork, one side leading to the Haunted Caves, filled with traps and undead, that then dump out into the heavily guarded entrance way. This is clearly what the party came through. The other way leads to a fortified block house where there are loop holes for cross bow fire. They have a plan to deal with this. Within the barn is something that the Grey Dwarves call a "Tank". It looks like a spider crossed with a World War I era tank made of black cast iron. It looks to be inert, but is standing on a set of legs, that seems clearly designed for movement. Urgan tells them they have designed this thing to break through the blockhouse at Eryx. After hearing that the party has taken out what he guesses to be 25% of the Eryxian fighters, this is a great opportunity to re-take.

Minus gives Urgan his purple, crstal knife that he got on Alpha Blue. Urgan is fascinated as it is so light and strong, yet seems to hold an impossibly sharp edge. Gerag gives him a Space Dwarven steam rifle, demonstrating its usage, and explaining that at some point the steam generating ball will no longer be able to power the

They call it an early night, and rest comfortably in Urgan's large home with their needs attended by the goblin slaves.

26 May Thursday Venus/Khurn Falder

They return to the barn with a Grey Dwarf soldier called Thonar, who can speak common, acting as their minder. He leads them to the barn where they see The Tank being loaded onto a large cart. Also on the cart is cage with a Grey Dwarf in his underwear. Also two large glass bottles of red liquid are placed on the cart. Gerag tries to stay as far as possible from the bottles as possible.

A troop of about 25 heavily armed and armored Grey Dwarf soldiers arrive for the trip to Eryx. There are many goblin slaves, each Dwarf seems to have one who fetches, carries, and takes care of their steeder on which their gear is loded. There is a large bunch of steeders who are pulling the cart, and some goblin drovers. The dwarves are boisterious and excited, but then the Priest Yerlak arrives, leading to silence. He is dressed all in black, with some red accents, and his face covered by a hideous mask with many horns. He sits on the cart, and the battle group lurches forward.

The journey back to the Inn of the Flaming Pool goes faster than their journey the other way, despite being up hill, as the Grey Dwarves seem to know the route well. They get there around lunch time, stop to feed and water the steeders, and take a brief lunch. The Shortwicks are gawping at the spectacle.

To get up the ramp to Eryx it takes all hands, including the party to drag the heavily laden cart up to the top. Just beyond the top of the ramp the Tank is taken off the cart. One of the bottles of red liquid is poured into the Tank, the cage is taken down and put next to Tank, and the Priest begins chanting. The dwarf in the cage is pleading for mercy, the priest stops, and speaks to some of the others. Two goblin slaves are grabbed and tossed into the cage. The Priest begins again, there is flash of red light, all in the cage crumble to dust, and the Tank rises on its legs and begins to lurch forward. The Priest, in a trance, is lifted onto a sort of perch at the back of the Tank, and the Tank begins to skitter its way down the cave towards Eryx.

The dwarves armor up, and take off after the Tank led by Azthen. Thonar leads the party behind the Dwarves. Shortly the Tank gets into the caves of Eryx, rounding a corner at a T-intersection, the party recognizes this as where they entered the Underdark, and heads towards the blockhouse. This is a constructed wall across the cave, with a large gate, closed, and a number of firing points on either side. Cross bow bolts fire out of the blockhouse, but bounce harmlessly off the Tank. The Tank moves up to the Blockhouse, sticks a long pipe from its front into one of the firing points, there is the smell of burning flesh, and the sound of screams within.

The Tank then batters down the gate. Within is the burned body of a lizardman. Across the room is another gate, which is burned and charred. The Tank easily smashes through this, continues forward, passes a narrow corrider leading to the right, and then turns right down a wide corridor with a mine cart track running down the middle. To the left the mine shaft turns to the right splitting into a number of traverses leading into the mountain. Two dwarves go out in front as the Tank begins moving down the corridor towards the heart of Eryx. The others led by Azthen are formed up behind the Tank. The party is bringing up the rear.

As the Tank makes its way down the corridor. A rumbling sound is heard from ahead. A large, dark shape, glowing orange from within, is moving quickly down the corridor towards the Tank. The dwarves are shouting, and Thonar turns to the party, shouting, "Run!”

Mon Jan 01, 2018 8:12 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

6 May Thursday ContinuedVenus/Eryx

The party hastily runs back to where the mine tunnel joins theothers. They see the Grey Dwarves orderly retreat, but one ofthe two scouts trips as he gets tangled up within the legs ofthe tanks. They see a mine cart slam into the tank, and flipover spilling burning liquid around and over the tank. Theyhear the screams of the unfortunate Grey Dwarf scout, and smellburning flesh.

As the fire burns out and the smoke clears,>>>>>>>>they hear the War Leader Azthen shouting at the Dwarves. Thonartranslates, "Come on you apes! After me! Do you want to liveforever!" Azthen is leading them around the burned outtank, and down the tunnel. Charging at them is a troop ofSteeder riding halflings backed up by a squad of lizardmen.They clash in the tunnel with the Dwarves getting the bestof the fight.

Gerag climbs up on the burned out tank. He can see thedead, burned body of the priest, and notes that thedefenders of Eryx seem to be falling after one blow.He thinks they are playing dead, but he approaches andthey beg for mercy, saying that they want to beleft in peace. Azthen is struggling with an Elf,evidently Wellfast, the leader of the Outer part ofEryx. They note that he looks strange, with oneside of his head swollen and oversize. During hisfight with Azthen he spits out what looks like asmall green snake, which burrows under Azthen'sskin.

Wellfast takes the opportunity of Azthen falling tothe ground writhing in pain, to break off and retreat.The other defenders throw down their weapons and begfor mercy. Looking at Azthen they can see what seemsto be creatures moving beneath the surface of his skin.The Dwarves dispatch one of their number to go backand get a jug of Spider Fire. Thonar steps forward,calls on the power of the Great Smith, and castsa Lesser Restoration on Azthen. Azthen writhes and vomitsup some black and green stuff, and then falls asleep.

Wulfgar steps up and leads the milling Dwarves forwarddown the tunnel. They find a pen of goblin slaves,and Wulfgar tells the halfling and lizardmen to releasethe goblins. He tells the goblins to clean up the messand get some food going. They are trying to pursue thefleeing Wellfast, and one of the lizardmen says thathe might have retreated to his quarters.

They lead the party into the market hall, and on the toplevel into a door on the far side. Within there is a setof paintings on the wall and an easel with a half finishedpainting. There is a considerable amount of dust coveringthe unfinished painting. They decide that perhaps Wellfastfled to the Inner Sanctum of Eryx. They are led to thelower level of the Market. There they see one corridorguarded by a pair of young halflings. The two youths,who are visibly terrified, tell them that Wellfast didflee through here, and did head towards the Inner Sanctum.

They are led from the market place through some work areasfor Nephilum and then down a corrider that leads to a guardpost. There is a heavy door, with a metal bar that islying on the floor. The lizard man tells them that throughthe door and to the right is the Inner Sanctum and thatnothing in the world will make him go down there. Allwho go in return touched by chaos.

The party minus Wulfgar plus Thonar and six GreyDwarves will head into the Inner Sanctum. They noticethat Vamear has gone missing, and no one can recallwhen they last saw him. Wulfgar would like to remainhere, restore the worship of the Great Smith, resistthe Worm Priests who oppress the Grey Dwarves, andwork the Nephilum mine.

Passing through the barred door they enter into awide corridor. It is clearly a continuation of theentrance way which was bricked up. To the left they seea similar bricked up wall blocking the passage.The passage continues deep into the mountain on theright. They follow it a long way, about 1/2 mile,where they start seeing natural caverns branching offto both sides. They see some signs of someone havingpassed recently and they follow them to the right.The passages are twisty and irregular. They losethe trail, find a cavern that is free from dirtand dust, and then find a creature that is all eyesand mouths which paralyzes one of the Grey Dwarves.They manage to kill the creature. In the nextcavern they find some sort of creature hiding beneatha pile of debris which is salted with coins. It hastentacles with fang filled mouths at the end, and ituses a weapon and wand within the debris. Geragscores a big blow on the creature, cutting off oneof the tentacles, and the others pepper it withmissle fire, until it seems to withdraw under theearth. It has paralyzed another party member.(Who? I do not have it in my notes and cannot remember!)

Sun Jan 21, 2018 5:53 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

26 May Thursday Continued Venus/Eryx

Digging among the mess Gerag finds a two-handed sword, a wand, and a large emerald. The creature was welding the wand and the sword. The emerald is oblong with one end cut into an intricate pattern, while the other end is raw and unworked. Minus is able to read the magic word on the wand, written in Dwarf runes, which when spoken would activate the wand. Thonar notes there are many coins within the pile, is a bit surprised that the others don't seem to care, and with only a little effort gathers up 600 GP of gold and silver coins. One exit heads back towards the main tunnel, but gets very narrow. It is unlikely that any one went this direction.

Ekkie uses her drone to spy ahead and sees a cavern filled with all sorts of mushrooms. Horat recognizes some as Darkscape Mushrooms which are known to have good effects at warding off the effects of chaos. He gathers what he thinks might be 3-4 doses. He knows if processed it could be more effective, but he does not know how to do it.

The party notices some strange time distortion effects (people moving fast, people stuck in place, people disappearing and reappearing).

The mushroom filled cavern continues back towards the main passage and gets very narrow. There is no sign that any one recently passed through it.

They head back to the room with the great crevasse in it. They hear a loud chittering noise coming from the crevasse which frightens them. Ekkie again uses the drone to look down into the crevasse and sees a monstrous spider hiding below the lip of the crevasse amid the innumerable smaller insects that cover the crack.

They work up the courage to cross the room to the far tunnel. Ekkie brings up the rear and she drops a glue trap between the exit tunnel and the crevasse. She sees the spider begin to rise out of the crevasse, and dip one claw into the glue, and draw back. She feels a malevolent and intelligent presence as the eight eyes of the spider stare at her as she follows the party down the tunnel.

They see a dim light up ahead. They find two Grey Dwarves huddled around a fire roasting a large insect. One is badly hurt with a mangled leg. The two tell them that they are the last remaining Grey Dwarves captured by Wellfast and his cohorts when they took over Eryx. He forced them into these caverns to harvest Darkscape Mushrooms. They encountered one of those mouth/eye things which killed some of their bretheren. They managed to run away, encountered some Dark Spawn, things that dead yet remain alive, and have been surviving here on insects and mushrooms while they try to recover. They have 9 doses of Darkscape mushrooms. Wellfast passed through about an hour ago.

The party decides to detail two of their Grey Dwarves to escort these two back to the Outer Sanctuary, but take their Darkscape.

They head forward and get to a worked room. Curtaining the exit is a mass of body parts with the torso of beautiful elf sticking out and begging for help to release her from the clutches of this horrible creature. As they approach cautiously it begins slinging spells at them, magic missiles, a very damaging lightening bolt, and a roving ball of fire. The party pulls out their various missile wepons (rail guns, laser rifles, mortar bombs, etc.) and tear away at the horrible creature. It tries to bargain with them, but they will have none of it and finish it off. They expend some healing magic, but one of the Grey Dwarves is badly injured. They see more worked chambers beyond and suffer another time anomaly.

Sun Feb 04, 2018 5:57 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

26 May Thursday Continued Venus/Eryx

Thonar tries to convince one of Grey Dwarves to swap weapons with him, as his war hammer was damaged fighting the living wall, and for the Dwarf to report back on their progress. The Dwarf refuses, saying that it is far too dangerous to go back on his own. Thonar uses his Mend Cantrip to fix his weapon.

They see the strangeness in the next room with pod like things and see a smear of blue goo flowing towards an obviously damaged and holed wall. Minus takes a small taste of the goo, feels very bad, retches, and throws up. Horat uses his Tricorder on it and finds that it is like sap, but matches nothing he knows.

They decide to hole up for a long rest to recharge and heal. They post watches, and Ekkie sets up some warning traps. The night passes uneventfully.

27 May Friday

They press deeper into the inner sanctum and encounter a strange thing that looks like a cross between an insect and worm. Gerag manages to knock it out with a stunning blow and they hack it to pieces. They note that within it there were brains.

They pass through partially ruined, once magnificent domed room that leads to a long corridor. Along the corridor are niches that clearly once held statues. They pass an amazing sculpture of a thunder cloud made out of some stone that they cannot identify.

As they move up the corridor they see what looks to be six snakes floating in the air and they suddenly dart forward and attack with fang lined mouths. Three attack Gerag and three attack Thonar. They latch on and they both feel as if they are being pulled in a direction they cannot comprehend. The others attack the snakes noting that their far ends do not end, but seem to fade away. Minus and Lidzira throw a Hypnotic Pattern, after a couple of failures, and the "snakes" go limp. Gerag tears his off, causing some damage to himself, and the rest continue to attack the limp "snakes". Eventually they kill the creature, which materializes and crashes down to the floor of the corridor. The six "snakes" were actually tentacles that surrounded a tooth filled maw. Apparently they were being pulled into it. The creature was large enough that it could have swallowed them whole. They have never seen anything like this horror. Minus gathers some of the long fangs from the maw.

They press on up the corridor.

Sun Mar 18, 2018 5:37 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

27 May Friday Continued Venus/Eryx

They explore further up the corridor and come to the four way intersection which is filled with long, silver grass which eerily sways in unison. They note that to the left the corridor ends abruptly in a rock fall. They can tell that this is the main, wide corridor which would lead straight back to the main entrance. In front the grass grows thicker and taller eventually filling the corridor. They turn to the right. The two dwarves who accompany them are named Lobster and Crab.

Wellfast jumps out to ambush them. He spits one of his chaos worms on Thonar and quick action by him and Lidziralead to it getting smashed before it can burrow into hisskin. They note that Wellfast's head is mishapenand they can see the chaos worms moving beneath hisskin. He seems to be alone and backs into a cornerto fight them. Gerag first tries to tackle Wellfast,bounces off, but then delivers a stunning blow.Horat gathers Wellfast's ring which they identify asbeing protective. They bumble as they back away, frightenedby the worms moving beneath Wellfast's skin, and herises saying "My master has ordered me to retake theouter sanctuary." He hits Thonar with his axe,but Horat fells him with shot from his LighteningGun. He is a smoking ruin.

The head up the short corridor to large double doorsand bash their way in. Their are a bunch of Grey Dwarvesengaged in domestic activities, washing clothes andcooking, and after some confusion and hesitationa real fight breaks out. Of the ten dwarves, whoare unarmored, and only armed with kitchen implements,six of the dwarves lie dead. The remainder saythat the one door leads to storage. A quick lookreveals an empty room and then a room with a strangeplant growth on the back wall. A second door leads to"the living quarters." A quick check reveals a longcorridor with some doors off of it. Gerag spikesthe door close. Finally a big set of double doorsleads to the Lab. The master, plus his ten or soassistants are never to be disturbed when they are inthe Lab. The dwarves are restrained, and theyprepare to crash down the doors and enter the lab.

Sun Apr 01, 2018 6:06 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

27 May 981 Continued Venus/Eryx

The party arrays itself led by Gerag and breaks into the lab. They the see a crowd of supporters, Madreus at his podium chanting, the walls lined with Nephelim, strange creatures dimly seen and moving in the walls and a big ball floating off the floor pulsing slowly. Around the ball are three pillars; one is red, one is green, and one is blue. Besides Madreus the elf, they see a Grey Dwarf who is clearly some sort of wizard, 5 Grey Dwarf soldiers, two big trolls, and three clearly undead things that they guess to be ghouls.

Horat launches a lightning bolt which kills the Dwarf wizard, and hurts Madreus. The pulsing of the gate begins to slow down and what they can see through it begins to go dim. Yumi reads Madreus thoughts and can hear him panic and planning to flee. As they pile into the room and mix it up with the supporters, Madreus disappears. A long bloody fight begins, with the party having the upper hand. Eventually they kill them all except for two of the Grey Dwarf soldiers who are knocked out and tied up. Lidzira and Horat examine the book that Madreus left behind on the pedestal. It is clearly in some sort of code, and will take some time to decipher. They notice two more crystals, matching the green one that Gerag has, that are a red Ruby and a blue Saphire. They can clearly see that the gems are to be inserted in receptors in the podium, and there is a black track ball. They assume that this will activate the gate and point it, but they are not at all clear on the details. Thonar and Minus loot the lab equipment, which is clearly a wizards lab, on the tables. Ekkie loots the body of the Dwarf Wizard gathering up a ring and a wand.

They begin to think about going into the living quarters and as they are pulling out the spikes on the door, the door is smashed open by some invisible force. They can see Madreus down at the end of the hall preparing to cast a spell. Horat manages to hit him with his Stunning Field before he can get his spell off. They rush to bind him.

They take off him a dagger made of a spiraling bone that comes to a point, a pair of strange glasses, and a black wand with a glass bulb on the end. When he comes to, they begin questioning him. Apparently he had figured out that Eryx was built by the Snake People in ancient times. From the notes of the Elves who first explored Eryx, he realized it was a Gate capabable of connecting to other worlds. He organized an expedition to explore, fought through the Grey Dwarves who were holding the outer sanctum. He and his friends got to the Gate, and he managed to begin to learn its secrets. He sent his friends to guard the Gate, while he began his great work of understanding the Gate. He has spent many years studying the incredible worlds that he has found at the other end of the gate. Yes, there have been problems. Some of the dangerous things from the other end of the gate have leaked into this world, but it is but a small price to pay for the wealth of knowledge that he has learned. If you fools could only understand, you would not be standing in the way of my continued work.

Horat feeds him a Darkscape mushroom. He becomes violently ill, and passes out. Thonar checks on him with Detect Chaos and finds that he is very chaotic, and the bone dagger is actually the horn of Unicorn and is very evil. The party grows more disgusted as this goes on, Gerag can take it no more, and kills Madreus with his sword. No one moves to stop him.

Once he is dead the trussed up Grey Dwarves begin to get agitated. Questioning them, they say that they feel as if they have just woken from a very long nightmare. They were members of the Eryxian community, recall Madreus and their friends breaking through to the inner sanctum, which the Dwarves had bricked off, and then returning weilding chaotic magic. They themselves recall seeing Madreus wearing those glasses, and then falling into a confused state. Everytime they seem to be coming out of it, they would have another session with Madreus and his glasses. They seem to remember early days of Madreus pointing the Great Gate at the worlds of the Kylindo system (Mars, elsewhere on Venus, the Moon, Kylindo), but then pointing at a strange place with horrible creatures such as those the party encountered on the way in. Madreus then grew obsessed with this place and kept the Gate pointed at this place for a very long time.

The party debates what to do. Trying to get out via the Great Gate is going to be very dangerous. Heading back out is likely to be difficult, but at least they know the way back and can likely avoid stumbling into horrible things. Minus expresses the view that he does not want to remain undeground, would like to see the sun, and taste an apple again. Thonar is also very interested in getting to the surface, connecting with the greater community of the Dwarves who worship the Great Smith, and get help liberating his people from the Worm Priests. Horat and Gerag want to continue their mission of transporting weapons to Free Mars, and going on to see what is going on the Moon where the Dragon Empire is embroiled in a spreading civil war.

They give some thought to how to cleanse/purify this area, but are daunted by how large and bad it is. A check in the storage area reveals that the alien plants there are withering. They begin to prepare for the trip to the outer sanctum.

Here also is a time line of the party’s trip to Venus:

Thursday 19 May - Party arrives on Venus Saturday 21 May - Closing of Venusian space, party coerced into serving the Emperor, meet Vamear Sunday 22 May - Party to Longbridge Monday 23 May - Party's first incursion into Eryx, discover Nephilum and the Great Underground Market Tuesday 24 May - Party's second incursion into Eryx, hostile reaction, exploring the Dead Caves, discover Vamear is more than he seems, to the Inn of The Flaming Pool Wednesday 25 May - Travel to the Grey Dwarf town of Khurn Falder, plan to liberate Eryx with the Grey Dwarves Thursday 26 May - Assault on Eryx, Vamear disappears, Wellfast excapes, meet Thonar, Wulfgar to hold Eryx, party to the Inner Sanctum, rest in the Twisted CavernsFriday 27 May - Deeper into the Inner Sanctum, encounter alien life, kill Wellfast, close the Great Gate, kill Madreus

Sun Apr 29, 2018 7:38 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

27 May Friday Continued Venus/Eryx

They decide to rest the night before making their way back out to outer sanctum. Ekkie tells them to save a body to feed the giant spider on the way out. Otherwise their route seems pretty straight forward with no obvious source of trouble. There is some discussion as they think they will be creating a spider with a taste for sophonts. They also note they are headed back to space and the spider could have a space ship and hunt them down. Ekkie points out that it might be dangerous as there are still terrible things here, pointing to ghouls and the trolls.

The servant dwarves immediately being preparing for the party to stay. They gather blankets and pillows for beds, and cook up a meal. One of them, Jasper, takes a liking to Minus and Lidzira and plans to accompany them out into the outside world. Minus checks out the store room and finds nothing spectacular, but valuable food stuffs in the underdark. He gathers up some stuff to trade when they get back to the Great Underground Market. Gerag spikes all the doors closed. Minus needs a night light.

28 May Saturday Venus/Eryx

They make their way out with two Grey Dwarves who went in with them (Lobster and Crab), two Grey Dwarf ex-guards of Madreus, and three Grey Dwarf servants (one is Jasper). They note that the field of strange white grass is withering and no longer creepily rippling in unison. The weird pods are split open and blue goo is drying up and turning black. They get to the natural caverns. At the crevasse they note that the glue trap has been neutralized by being covered by the bodies and shed skin of countless insects. Gerag throws a body to far edge of the crevasse, and they run trough the cavern. Ekkie looks back and see the claws of the spider gathering up the body. She still feels frightened as the spider disappears from view.

They get through the caverns and head down the long wide corridor back towards the outer sanctum. Along the way they see two lizardmen running towards them. They are dressed in the tattered regalia of Worm Priests, and looked battered. They kill the two easily, and prepare for more. After waiting a bit, none come and they continue their journey. Thonar gathers up a very fine war hammer from them.

They get to the guard post at the end of the long corridor, and find it manned by some Grey Dwarves who recognize Thonar. They tell them the worm priests were hiding in some secret chamber, tried to break out when they were busy with the great market, and some how got to the tunnel to the inner sanctum. The Market is going on now. They make their way up and find Wulfgar. He and Grey Dwarf War Leader Azthen are in control here. They sent some messengers back to the Grey Dwarf town to tell them they have taken over Eryx, and to turn up for the Market. Once the Grey Dwarf traders arrived, they too are joining the rebellion versus the Worm Priests.

They tell Wulfgar that the horror in the inner sanctum has been defeated, but that it is still dangerous. They suggest barring the door and not letting any one go in.

Wulgar shows them the note that he found when he went back to the Skiff, which was parked in the entrance way:

"Wellfast imprisons us. Some horror from the Inner Sanctum has taken him over. Please come, save us, and our families. Please bring more apples and grapes. We only want to live in peace."

He has learned that they were afraid of Wellfast as he could spit those horrible worms and turn them into chaos creatures. Wellfast was aligned with Worm cultists among the lizards, who they rooted out, and some how fled to the Inner Sanctum. Wulfgar plans to stay here and lead the rebellion against the Worm Cult, run Eryx including the Great Market and Nephilum mine and forge, and hopefully establish trade relations with the Elves on the surface. His most difficult problem is liberating the Goblins. Not only are the others having trouble treating them as free, but also the goblins seemed inclined to serve. It is still a work in progress.

They ask after Vamear, but Wulfgar and his friends did not see him. They surmise that he escaped to the surface during the confusion of the attack on Eryx, which was two days ago.

They go shopping at the Great Market. Horat gathers up some Nephilum rods and plates, Yumi gathers some Underbean Paste, Gerag gathers mushrooms and spices, Minus trades the food stuffs he liberated from the Inner Sanctum for 2 Cave Flower Molds (Healing Potions) and a Spider Web Bandage (First Aid). Thonar gets his fortune told:

"Heaven and Earth move away from each other. In the ensuing void, the small invade where the great have departed. There is no common meeting ground, so the Superior Person must fall back on his inner worth and decline the rewards offered by the inferior invaders.

Difficult trials as you hold to your course."

Minus buys some Nephilum based armor. He gets a shield (+2 to AC) that is clear. Minus talks with the Drow who traded for the healing stuff, Belenow, who advises him that his knife is from a Unicorn and the Elves on the surface would be very unhappy with him if they found him with such a thing. It is likely to be cursed in some way, and he should try to hide it. Belenow directs him to a dealer who sells a scabbard lined with lead that will hide the magical aura of the weapon. Minus does so and thanks Belenow by giving him two poison sacs he took off of giant bees that attacked them back on Kylindo in the labyrinth leading to the great cavern below Marnor. Belenow tells Minus that there are Worm Priests in the Drow world too and they are struggling with the followers of the Spider God.

The party decides they should go out to Longbridge this evening, and part ways with Wulfgar. All the Grey Dwarves, besides Jasper and Thonar will remain here, joining Wulfgar in the struggle against the Worm Gods.

They head out, it early evening and beginning to grow dark. They head towards the Inn, and find the village very quiet. Ekkie scouts around and note there seems to be no activity, but the Inn is open. They head in and learn of Elvish attack on the Dwarven colonies on Mars:

Front Page News in The Absolute Story ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Halkintalrik and C'thalgran Welcome To The Empire

Emperor Idrinian is pleased to welcome the people of Halkintalrik and C'thalgran on Mars to the Empire. The Emperor has sent them the following message of congratulations, "I am pleased to welcome you to our Empire. While the circumstances are less than ideal, going forward you will know the reward of being part of our Great Work.

It may be that our future may lay upon us more than one stern test. Our past will have taught us how to meet it unshaken. For the present, the work to which we are all equally bound is to arrive at a reasoned tranquillity within our borders; to regain prosperity without self-seeking; and to carry with us those whom the burden of past years has disheartened or overborne.

My life's aim has been to serve as I might, towards those ends. Your loyalty, your confidence in me will be my abundant reward.

I speak now from my home and from my heart to all of my subjects. To all so cut off by the snows, the desert, the sea, of the vastness of space that only voices out of the air can reach them; to those cut off from fuller life by blindness, sickness, or infirmity; and to those who are celebrating this day with their, families, children and grand-children. We all extend our welcome to you."

The "circumstances less than ideal" of which the Emperor speaks were further elaborated upon by Fafir Traler, the Imperial Chief Herald, who spoke of a space born incursion of these two former Dwarven colonies on Mars. He released a list of awards and honors, which appears on page 2, and a casualty list which appears on page 4.

Further analysis appears on our editorial page where we commend the Emperor for making the most of the confused situation caused by the Dragon Empire Civil War. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ People in the town are very concerned as the local militia was called up and marched off over a week ago. Although no one from the town is among the dead, they are afraid what might happen next. Vamear reappeared Friday morning, same time as the attack on Erys, and immediately left for the capitol. They are not going to be able to catch him even in the Skiff, and decide to stay the night before heading to the capitol first thing tomorrow. They send a message via fast halfling courier service to the Martians and Dragons warning them that Vamear might be causing trouble for them.

They cautiously spend the night at the Inn, but there is no trouble.

29 May Sunday

They load up the Skiff and head to Carmenta. Thonar marvels at the fields of Liftwood Trees and Spider Silk Worm bushes and the large numbers of halflings and lizardmen toiling in the fields.

They head straight to the space port, and ushered into a meeting with a Customs Official called Myril. He asks them about what they might be exporting and what they found in Eryx. His questions seem a bit too probing for a Customs Official, he is curious that there seems to be an extra dwarf and quite interested that Eryx may be short of food. Horat uses the Glasses of Madreus to steal his will. They grab and destroy his notes, but Ekkie writes some benign entries, grapes, apples, underbean paste, etc. and have him sign his name to an exit visa for all. They hurry to the Martian Ether battleship, The Reviler, and the Wyvern train. Their friends there share with them another view of the recent events on Mars:

Saturday 27 May Front Page News Story in the Chronicle of Really Exciting Events on Mars ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Elven Empire Announces Addition of Halkintalrik and C'thalgran to its Territory

Fafir Traler, spokesperson for the Elven Empire, announced in the name of the Emperor that the Martian city states of Halkintalrik and C'thalgran have joined the Elven Empire. The circumstances are unclear, but Halkintalrik and C'thalgran had been Dwarven colonies, and this news is perhaps a consequence of the major Dwarven defeat at the Battle of the Cloud last week. There was no comment from Dwarven authorities.

Prince Korfax of Kirtal denounced this as a move of naked aggression by the Elves. "Thus the off worlders show their true face. When there is weakness, they do not offer a helping hand, but rather they seek to take and oppress. Now in this time of uncertainty is the moment for all Martians to unite and throw off the chains of off worlder oppression. Free Mars." ---------------------------------------------------------

They also say that the Elves discovered the cache of Dwarven steam weapons on the Reviler and confiscated most of it. On the good news front, the Elves did open Venusian space today, and they are preparing to continue on to Mars.

The party wants to leave "right now" and after a short amount of dithering, the Reviler and the Wyvern train lift off and continue their journey to Mars. They are headed for Kirtal, the most vibrant of Free Martian cities, and the home of Horat. The journey should take a day of space travel.

Sun May 20, 2018 4:39 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

27 May Friday Continued Venus to Mars

As they leave Venus they notice that Minus cannot abide the darkness of space.

Horat and Lidzira work on cracking the code of the Book of Madreus. They make some progress on the code. They get the impression that the first part of the book is on the study of Gates between Worlds while the second part is on the study of the very strange and chaotic creatures like those they observed in the inner sanctum of Eryx. They will keep at it when they have free time. Horat takes the precaution of taking the Darkscape mushrooms and making a tea out of it that he drinks while studying the book.

Yumi checks on Stahleno. She powers up OK and seems fine. She was undisturbed while they were on Venus.

Thonar and Gerag talk about what the party is up to. Gerag tells Thonar that they accidentally got transported to the outer part of the system and have been trying to make their way back to Kylindo. Some (Ekkie and Minus) seem to be interested in exploring on the way back, while he is more focused on just getting back home. Two of their original party dediced to remain in the Confederation of Asteroid States with Sansa, a fairy worshipping elf, becoming the ruler of Port Greely/Thanarath and Sal, a artifact hunter, stayed behind on Bral/Zoothique. Wulfgar decided to stay on Venus to rule Eryx and lead the rebellion versus the Worm Cult. He likens their journey back as being like a stick being carried by a swift flowing stream. Gerag tells him that there are great kingdoms of Dwarves on Kylindo that worship the Great Smith. At the moment they are escorting the Star Farer Vaporator to the Moon/Selene. They found it on a Star Farer derelict vessel, it was purchased by a Dwarf Mining Mogul on Bral, and then rented it to the White Dragons who want to use it on the Moon. Watching over the Vaporator is the Dwarf known as Storm, and White Dragonspawn Crockett. They have mentioned to the party that they are happy to see the Vaporator fall into the hands of the forces seeking to throw off the yoke of the Dragon Empire. They expect that will happen on Mars and the Vaporator will be taken by the Free Martians.

28 May Saturday Kirtal/Mars

They approach the city state of Kirtal which is part of Free Mars. It is located within the Western Uplands and they note the giant volcano which is similar to one on Venus. Is there any connection?

Kirtal is a series of vertical cities, known as the Hanging Cities of Mars, clinging to the sides of steep valleys. They are told that as Mars went dry over the last hundreds of years the cities were moved out of the valley bottoms to give them over to argiculture. The oceans dried up and filled with fine silt, and silt ships were built which skim over the silt propelled by the dry, desert wins. The former land is now rocky desert with only a few wet areas maintained by a canal system fed by melt from the polar caps.

Upon arrival the Reviler is unloaded. They managed to keep some of the Dwarven Steam weapons from the Elves, but it is disappointing that they will not have enough to equip a Free Martian army.

They accompany Horat to see his mentor Rastia. She is a leader of Martian science and has gone beyond simply making use of ancient Martian technology. She is not only expert at repairing the old stuff, but she is beginning to learn how to make new things. The Reviler is one of her creations. In talking with Rastia and the many students that work in her underground lab, The Institute, they learn that there is a big problem. The devices and weapons are powered by the Green Crystals, the party has some that they found when they first got to the Ring of Smoke and they power the Skiff and some of their weapons, and there are not nearly enough of them. They are desperate for more of them.

Thus while Kirtal has produced a large number of space ships, like the Reviler but most are smaller, they cannot deploy a fleet to challenge the Dragon Empire, Elves, Dwarves, etc. who have colonized Mars.

The big news here is that the son of Prince Krofax, Eyrean, has apparently gone missing. He led an expedition into the deep desert to retrieve a flying ship located in a green gem mine. This story was thought to be mythical but a rival/colleague of Rastia's Vol Kovtu convinced Eyrean that it was real. Without his father's knowledge Eyrean led an expedition into the desert about a month ago.

Just recently one of the members of the expedition, Bardolph, has returned. He is quite insane and seems to indicate that Eyrean's expedition found the green gem mine and the flying ship, but also found an entrance to the Martian underworld. They went below, became lost, and found many horrible things. He rants about the Nullites and the Cult of Null, and provides a confusing map indicating the progress of Eyrean's expedition. He was separated from the rest during a battle, and managed to make his way back to the surface. He was found wandering the desert.

Rastia asks the party to try to find Eyrean. Not only can they find a source of green gems, a flying ship, the Martian Underworld, but also Eyrean who is a great war leader and can lead the forces of Free Mars in the coming struggle. Success could be the key to free Mars.

She thinks that Vol Kovtu knows more about what Eyrean was looking for than he has revealed. She has convinced Prince Krofax to order Vol Kovtu to accompany the expedition.

The party agrees to undertake the search for Eyrean.

Thonar talks with Rastia about some mysterious items that he found in Eryx. She has an analyzer and The Ring and Warhammer are put in for analysis. She notes that these things have some sort of strange Obfuscator Effect which makes it hard to read their actual power. She finds this fascinating and would like to study this Obfuscating Effect further. Thonar leaves the items with her and as they leave they see her bent over her work table, scribbling in what seems to be the latest in a set of hundreds of note books.

The party then visits with Horat's school friends at the Institutes Guest House, aka a dorm, hearing their wild tales of hijinks and dining on roasted giant grasshopper. Yumi takes her pleasures with two of the nerds, Arkas and Dahrkon, and learns from them that the Martian Tech is prone to failure. They spend a great deal of their time repairing Rastia's creations. They are less than enthusiastic about a war to Free Mars as they realize they will have to be on the front lines to keep the ships and weapons working. After a night with Yumi, they pledge their undying love to her.

29 May Sunday Kirtal, Mars

In the morning, Rastia returns The Ring and Warhammer to Thonar. She has discovered that The Ring is a powerful protector (AC +2, +2 to Saving Throws), but she still does not know what the Warhammer is. The Obfuscation Effect is fascinating. Horat tries with his Tricorder and confirms what Rastia has observed.

They meet Vol Kovtu. He mumbles a bunch, and wears a volumous robe and gloves. He tells them that he chanced upon a desert prospector who had found an amphora made of the green crystal. Upon interogation the prospector told him that the legend of the flying ship lost in the desert was real, and the prospectors had found it at the end of dried up water course that ended in the village of Calencia. There is a mine for the green crystals, the flying ship, and an entrance to the Martian Underworld. He also seemed to hint that there was something horrible in the mine, and his expedition was wiped out with him being the only survivor and the amphora being the only item he retrieved. Vol Kovtu notes that the prospector was "changed" without going into detail.

Vol Kovtu told Empyrean who hastily set off with his retinue realizing the importance of a green gem mine. Vol Kovtu feels terrible about this whole thing, is very sorry, and very much wants to make amends by helping the party find the mine, the flying ship, the Martian Underworld, and hopefully Empyrean.

30 May 981Kirtal to Calencia, Mars

They load their Skiff onto a Silt Ship. When Mars became a desert the oceans dried up and filled with fine sand. The Martians built ships with skids and sails so that the desert winds could propel them over the sand. The Silt ship makes its way down the old coast from Kirtal to the village of Calencia. They arrive in the late afternoon. It seems to have a few hundred inhabitants.

They note that Vol Kovtu quickly leaves the ship and goes to Badbicca's Place, a hostel, books a private room, and tells them he will meet them tomorrow morning to head up the dried water course.

The others scatter around the village. Yumi and Thonar visit the Medicine Shop run by Shaa, a middle aged woman and her three young women assistants. They purchase anti-venom for Giant Bee stings. Yes there are Giant Bees in area, and the sting can be fatal, but the anti-venom is very effective. Yes, they remember Eyrean's expedition, which came through about a month ago. They too purchased Bee Anti-Venom. Shaa tells Thonar of the Oracle Inga Gooch who dispenses wisdom and phrophecies. Two of Shaa's assistants, Sori and Ninu, seem taken with Yumi and invite her to join them at the Sleepy Lantern Tavern for the evening. Yumi leaves with them, while Thonar seeks out the Oracle.

At the Oracle, Thonar asks about his prophecy that he got on Venus. She inscrutably tells him, "One day you must decide betwixt the life of an ally and riches to comfort your life." and mentions that the proprietor of the Sleepy Lantern Taan Cooti mistreats his employees and will come to a bad end. The confused Thonar heads off after Yumi.

There he finds that Yumi and her two young friends have met Lefir Yiel, a handsome older man, who makes silt skiffs, small craft that carry one or two at very high speeds over the silt seas. They are popular here among the locals for traveling the old coast line. This is apparently safer than moving over the stony desert where besides the giant bees, there are giant white carnivorous apes. After a few drinks the four of them head to Lefir's shop as Yumi is intrigued by the silt skiffs.

Meanwhile Gerag and Ekkie walk around the perimeter of the village. They note that there are two big watch towers that clearly once overlooked the bay on which the village once sat. They seem to be manned and vigilent. They visit the Blacksmith, Ulldir, and purchase some hunting knives. He too tells them to beware of the giant white apes, and that he sold much to Eyrean's expedition a month ago.

They too end up at the Sleepy Lantern finding Thonar having over indulged and telling Taan Cooti that the Oracle had bad things to say about him. "Why would she do that, when you have such good beer?" He replies, that time will tell who will come to a bad end. They book rooms and escort Thonar up to bed. They also hear that Eyrean's expedition passed through here about a month ago. They get the advice that they should take as much water as they can carry if they are headed into the desert.

Yumi discovers that Lefi Yiel is an incredible artist. His Silt Skiffs are beautifully carved and richly detailed. She purchases one of the larger ones, which he will personalize for her in the next week. It is quite expensive and no one can figure out what Yumi will do with the large, heavy, awkward wooden vessel. She spends the night with Lefi, Sori, and Ninu.

31 May Monday Mars/Calencia

Gerag goes to the General store, purchases several large water skins, fills them at the town well, and joins the others who are loading the Skiff for the journey up the water course.

Sun Jul 08, 2018 7:26 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

31 May Tuesday Continued Mars/Desert near Calencia

They make their way back to the cave without incident. Yumi has a strange conversation with Stahleno whichconfuses and unnerves the others.Stahleno begins an aerial patrol around the cave. They occasionally see her swooping low over the mine entrance in the distance.

While settling down in the cave Horat finds a metal cylinder with a screw cap. Inside he finds a journal telling a tale of madness and death. It is written in archaic Martian. It mentions the great god Thakos who freed the writer and others from slavery. Thakos tore the head off the Sorceror Xarthanos and led a violent, deadly revolt by the former slaves of the mine. The mine floods as no one runs the water wheel, and madness sets in among the free slaves. Thakos demands the return of the green crystals that they had taken on their successful revolt, leading to jealousy and death. Some return to the mine growing sick, while the author flees to a nearby cave. The author slits the throat of his cousin who covets a green crystal they horde. He witnesses a massive sand storm that fills the water course, and a Viking raid on the mine. In the struggle he sees the great ape nearly bested by the Viking leader, but emerging victorous in the end. He grows ill and descends into madness. The last readable entry says, "The Green Sun watches me. Never blinking, always boiling." The party stares with distressing comprehension at the crude drawings on the wall of a winged ape and skeletal vikings.

Thonar begins some experiments on Vol Kovtu to see how he reacts to the green crystals. Vol Kovtu crudely offers to partner with Thonar to have all the green crystals for themselves. Eventually Thonar casts a major healing spell on Vol Kovtu. It has big effect with Vol Kovtu breaking down, and confessing his murderous behavior to gather more green crystals.

It all started when he heard of a green crystal amphora in Calencia which was found in the desert. He visited to study the artifact, and revealed to the villagers its great power and danger. He no longer felt safe in the village and quickly returned to Kirtal. He thinks they are hiding the amphora in the village for some secret purpose of their own.

From ancient records in Kirtal he guessed the location of the mine. He organized an expedition to the mine about two months ago. One feature is that they avoided passing through Calencia, which made it much more dangerous. It did not go well. They found evidence of the mine, a few crystals, and encountered things in the mine. At the top level there were out sized insects, like the fire beetles they saw earlier. They descended to the second level and were ambushed by those, he indicates the crude drawings of the skeletal vikings on the cave wall. His party of scientists, lab technicians, and bearers were no match. Most were killed by the vikings, and the survivors fled into the desert. He became more obsessed with selfish desire for the green crystals, and one night cut open the remaining water skins and fled on the surviving pack lizard. He presumed that the survivors perished in the desert. Apparently not, as the mad hermit was once one of his technicians.

Upon his return to Kirtal he realized the bad effect the green crystals were having on him, and devised his lead lined gear to protect him from the green crystals terrible effects. He was still obsessed, but not incoherent and murderous. He spoke to Prince Eyrean about the green crystal mine and what its discovery could mean for the cause of Free Mars. He hoped that Eyrean would take him on a second expedition. Instead Eyrean gathered his private guard and took off suddenly and ill prepared, leaving Vol Kovtu behind. He does not know anything about a flying ship or a connection to the underworld, and has no clue what happened to the Prince. When Bardolph, one of Eyrean's guards, reappeared in the desert, Vol Kovtu siezed on the opportunity to get Prince Ferkiss to order Rastia to prepare a mission of rescue and discovery. Rastia is not really interested, and the arrival of the party proved to be a perfect opportunity to get back to the mine, which must be filled with green crystals. He, of course, planned to betray the party after they had found the crystals.

Now he expresses regret, realizes that his actions are beyond forgiving, and hopes that he can help them find the green crystals and advance the cause of Free Mars. It is his only hope for redemption. They keep him hobbled and tied up.

They set watches over night, but are undisturbed except by the sound of the wind rushing through Stahleno's wings.

Wednesday 1 JuneMars/In the desert near Calencia

They head to the mine and prepare to go below. They use the fire beetle glands for light as they know without some way to preserve them, they will burn out in a few days. They descend on ropes to the first level. Gerag leads the way and finds a bunch of giant black centipedes who attack from a ledge over looking the shaft down to the next level. They easily defeat the horrors.

They see clear evidence of a once working mine. There are rails for a mine cart in the floor. At the shaft they find the wrecked remains of the windlass. Broken, rusted tools are scattered about. They also see ventilation ducts that clearly connect to the screen they saw not far from the entrance way.

They cautiously descend to the second level using ropes to get three down at once. They note that the shafts have ladder rungs, but they are thin and rusted. While fine for the smaller members of the party, the ladder is not trusted for the larger members. Below the shaft they are attacked by crab spiders lurking among the rocks. Again they defeat them easily.

The second level is divided by a portculis. Horat is easily able to open it with his magnet ring. Gerag leads the way forward towards a shaft descending to the third level when he sees six pairs of green, glowing eyes hiding among the rough walls of the chamber. They move to attack, heavily armored, Skeletal Vikings welding long swords, but Gerag is able to retreat behind the portculis, which Horat quickly lowers. Thonar tries to Away them, but they press forward. One is felled by their missle fire, the others retreat and begin descending the shaft. Horat raises the portculis, the party frantically chases after them, but one moves forward to delay them. It takes damage, retreats in good order, and the five survivors escape below. Vol Kovtu tells then that this is where his expedition was ambushed leading to the few survivors to turn around.

The party grimly stares at the shaft leading another 30-40 feet below. They realize that these are not mindless undead, but something else. The shaft is similar to the other with an untrustworthy ladder. As before they throw down two ropes and descend three at a time. Gerag, Horat, and Thonar lead the way. As they get to the floor below, four of the Skeletal Vikings move to attack. Ekkie, Yumi, and Minus descend to help, but their friends are hemmed in by sword welding horrors. They try to aid with missile weapons, but it is difficult to aim and fire while clinging to a ladder or dangling from a rope. Eventually Yumi leaps to the ground to attack from behind. After a tough fight, the horrors are dispatched. Thonar gathers a gold shield covered with Norse Runes that one of the Skeletal Vikings was using. The rest of their weapons and gear is old and rusted.

The party sees the tracks for a mine cart descend into the darkness of the third level.

Sun Aug 12, 2018 7:29 pm

greenbadge

Hlobane Orc

Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:00 amPosts: 103Location: Novi, Michigan

Re: The Marnor Campaign

Wednesday 1 June Continued Mars/In the desert near Calencia

They fire off some healing and wait for Horat's Heal to take effect. They note the snake themed doors which clearly lead to some sort of shrine to Yig. They decide to ignore this and continue down the mine following the mine cart tracks. Horat detects lead, a number of hits, down that way.

Horat sends his robot to scout ahead, and after a short way the tunnel opens into a large cavern. Ahead is an underground lake, to the left is block house structure crudely built inside the cavern, and to the left is a craggy wall with many nooks. In the middle of the cavern making its way to the block house is a skeletal viking, clearly badly damaged, moving slowly to the door of the block house. Octo moves to strike at the skeletal viking, and Gerag runs down the tunnel to finish it off.

As Gerag enters the cavern more skeletal vikings appear from among the crags and attack Octo and Gerag. A long, bloody fight ensues with the key event being a Spiritual Weapon from Thonar that is a special bonus success spawning eight spectral war hammers that hammer away on seven skeletal vikings. The others mainly hang back using their missle weapons. A grey slime falls at the entrance of the cavern during the midst of the fight dividing the party. It moves up the tunnel, paralyzing Horat and beginning to engulf him, before it is killed. During the course of the fight, Vol Kovtu begins to fall back towards the shaft leading up to the second level. Gerag and Ekkie notice, but Ekkie is too late to stop him. He screams, "No one should have them!" and is consumed in an explosion that leaves the shaft up and the entrance of the Shrine to Yg choked with rubble.

When the dust settles the skeletal vikings are dead, Octo has been battered into scrap, and the party does not know how to return to the surface. They explore the cavern. They see the mine cart tracks go beneath the surface of the lake, and end at a windless sunken beneath the lake leading to a water filled shaft that goes even deeper. Blind cave fish are easily seen swimming in the clear waters of the lake. The walls of the cavern are covered in large, pale green crystals. Between the block house and the lake one of these large crystals has been carved into a 10 foot tall crude likeness of a winged ape. Scattered around this are trinkets, bones, skulls, teeth, mummified fingers, and some coins. Thonar gathers the coins netting about 20 GP.

Accross from the block house is a gothic archway with iron doors. thched into the archway in archaic Martian it says "HE WHO ENTERS THE PRIVATE QUARTERS OF LORD KARSAS XARTHANOS WILL BE MADE TO SUFFER AN UNSPEAKABLE CURSE." Xaranthos was mentioned in the diary they found in the cave of the hermit/technician Vol Kovtu killed before he was cured.

Hidden among the crystals is a tunnel heading back towards the now blocked way out. It is narrower and goes about 20 feet before ending in a rusted iron door. The tunnel looks different than the others, being round and Thonar recognizes it as the sort of tunnel made by Underdark Worms, thought to be the spawn of the Worm God and sacred to the worshippers of the hated Worm Cult.

The whole cavern is very warm and humid. The block house is notably cooler, sweating with condensation. They can hear feint howls and rattling within. They enter the block house. To either side of the entrance are barred cells. Within one are skeletal vikings who upon seeing the party beg to be released from their misery. The other holds four hyena headed men, who look emasciated and bark and growl at the party while rattling at the bars of their cage. Thonar preys over the Vikings and uses his war hammer to smash their skulls, ending their long misery of undeath. Horat releases the hyena men who run howling and barking to the now blocked exit. Horat notes the gnawed bones of what looks a fifth hyena man left behind in the cage. They return dejectedly and begin trying to catch cave fish in the lake. Horat shares with them some food, which calms and quiets them. He then uses the Glasses of Madeus on them.

At this point the party notes a change in Horat's visage. His skin has become colorless, grey, and wrinkled. They are alarmed and surround him, asking him what is going on and while Horat tries to claim that nothing is wrong, Gerag knocks him out. This seems to distress the hyenamen, and it seems a fight is about to break out. Ekkie manages to calm the hyenamen, while Horat is tied up and revived. He tells them that he has been transforming for some time and is on his way to becoming what is known as a Grey Martian. Gerag, Ekkie, and Minus are reminded of Xort, the mysterious wizard who was helpful to them back in Marnor. Was Xort a Grey Martian? How did he get to the Cylinder? What is happening to Horat? Horat assures him that he is OK, but this is something that happens when too much power is used in too short of a time. He has not succombed to the forces of chaos. They buy this, release him and continue their exploration of the block house.

There is a door at the end of the hall and Ekkie is able to open the lock mechanism which is much like a combination lock. Within is a laboratory. A partially disected hyenaman is on a examination table, and there are many old, rusted instruments lying about. Also there are many tongs and lead boxes of various sizes. There are small shards of the larges crystals scattered about and pestals and mortars clearly used to grind the crystals into powder.

An iron door leads out of the lab, and they have to wrench it open. It leads to what was once clearly an office with an oversized desk and rotted wooden chair. There is a painting of a martian in archaic clothes. It is labeled KARSAS XARTHANOS, MASTER SORCERER. Gerag notes that the cloak on the man in the painting is clasped with a snake broach. The desk is covered with mouldering papers in old martian. Horat is able to puzzle it out that the papers describe the mining operation and the distillation of the large crystals into the green crystals. The green crystals are dangerous and should be stored in lead boxes and handled with tongs. This part of the mine was apparently on the surface and is long gone. The green crystals are needed to power a sky ship which is stored in a hanger at the end of the purple worm tunnels. The papers also mention the winged ape Thakos, who was a sort of mascot for the mine, but seemed to grow harder to control as time goes on. There is also an iron key and a brass key.

The party decides to hole up here in the office to rest and recover, before trying to find a way out. They heynamen are left outside to warn of approaching dangers.

Sun Sep 23, 2018 6:43 pm

cinabro

Red Cap

Joined: Fri May 26, 2006 7:00 amPosts: 210

Re: The Marnor Campaign

Wednesday 1 June Continued Mars/Green Diamond Mind

Before they rest, Horat manages to get out of the Hyenamen that they were captured by the Giant Ape indicating the crude statue. Horat ID's the fine shield that was carried by one of the skeletal vikings as a +2 Shield. Thonar then passes his +2 Ring of Protection to Gerag saying, "You take too much damage and waste too many gifts of the Great Smith healing you." The set watches and spend a peaceful 8 hours or so resting.

They decide to head through the ornate arch way. Ekkie finds no traps, but they are suspicious. Thonar detects magic on the door, and Lidzira casts an Erase and part of the intricate pattern on the door disappears. It was some sort of rune that has been disabled. Beyond is a sprial stair case leading up.

Rising up about 20 feet there is barred door off the stairs. They ignore this and continue up. At the top of the stairs a door, which they check for traps and find none, leads to an antechamber with two doors. One is a brass door, and Ekkie notes that the brass key they found in the blockhouse likely fits its lock. The other door is a plain interior door. They array themselves as best they can along the narrow stairs and small room. Ekkie opens the door and Gerag leads them in.

In the center of the room there is a wooden throne elaborately carved with a snake motif. Sitting in the throne is skeleton in a black robe, with a decayed red sash. The skeleton's head is sitting in its lap. Comically trying to conceal itself behind the throne is a large winged white ape, Thakos. He threatens them with dire magic, claiming to be a powerful magic man, and telling them that the green crystals are his and his alone.

They pile into the room and begin trying to attack the ape. Gerag attempts a complex bull rush leaping over the throne, and ends up in a heap on the throne, crushing the bones of the skeleton beneath him. Thakos does some sort of magic and there are six images of him in the room. Minus tosses his last grenade at Thakos, making four of the images dissappear, and Yumi hits one more image with an arrow leaving only the real one. Thonar casts a Silence, while Thakos rushes up to Horat, strikes him with both of his clawed hands, and then attempts to wrench Horat's head off as Horat screams in pain. Things look dire for Horat as the ape firmly grasps his head and seems ready to twist in the other direction when Gerag rises from the throne to deliver a punch that stuns the Ape. They quickly surround the prone ape and smash him with whatever they have in hand. Thakos groans and is about to rise, when a final blow from Ekkie finishes it off. Thakos was wearing fine golden vambraces that they gather up.

They now note the room, which is octagonal and besides the entrance wall has seven mirrors which are displaying parts of the mine. The wooden throne is clearly quite valuable and on some sort of bearings that allow it to rotate around to view the displays. All are recognizable parts of the mine except for two which display a small straw filled room and a bedroom.

Gerag goes through the other door in the anteroom and finds the bedroom. He finds mouldering clothes in an armoire and a golden, hand sized statue of the snake god Yig.

Horat looks at the mechanism of the mirrors and finds copper pipes coming out the ceiling and angled to point at the mirrors. He can tell that somehow the images are transported by the copper pipes and projected on the mirrors.

Ekkie checks out the mirror room and finds a secret door behind one of the mirrors. Within is a small room with a large lead chest overflowing with green diamonds. There are thousands; enough to power a Martian war fleet. There is also some gold and silver coins, 600 GP worth, a scimitar, and an intricately carved wooden boomerang. A trap door in the floor opens above the underground lake. Going back down to the blockhouse to get tools and boxes to gather up the remaining green diamonds that do not fit in the big, lead chest. They check out the barred door and find the small straw filled room. In it is a chest of drawers with red sashes. Lining the wall are many skulls.

They check the items for magic and find that the scimitar, boomerang, and vambraces are magic. The green diamonds are "magical" but look very different from ordinary things. Horat checks the Boomerang and finds that it is an opposite sex attractor and stuffs it in his belt and starts trying to attrack Lidzira and/or Ekkie who both think he must have dust in his eyes or something.

They head back down to the big cavern and plan to go through the round worm tunnel door. Ekkie notes that the iron key they found in the block house fits this door. They go through heading down the tunnel. It is strange being round, ridged, and taking an irregular path forward. Yumi asks them if they can hear a voice. No one else can. They get to a vertical intersection with one tunnel heading away horizontally, one heading up, and a third heading down. The vertical tunnel has rungs in it.

Exploring up, it goes about 50 or 60 feet ending in a scrub covered exit to the outside. They presume that the horizontal tunnel leads to the Sky Ship mentioned in the notes they found in the blockhouse. The tunnel going down goes at least 100 feet and probably more. They drop a fire beetle gland down and it disappears out of sight.

They go up, finding themselves not far from the stone ship, Stahleno is still on patrol guarding their skiff. They go up managing to rig up a sling to bring the chest of green diamonds up.

They heyna men, who have been obeying Horat, clearly express their desire to leave, and after some hesitation, Horat sets them free and they run off howling into the desert as the sun sets.

Yumi has a conversation with Stahleno where they put their heads together and no one can figure out how they are communicating.

They go the the hermit's cave and debate their next move. They can return now to Kirtal with the green diamonds. These will clearly be able to power up the Martian battle fleet and begin a rebellion to Free Mars. Is the lost Prince Eyrean needed to lead the army of Kirtal? Where is he? Probably his party went down the tunnel to the Martian underworld. Should they go there and try to find the Prince, strike a blow against the Worm God who is apparently active here, and perhaps find an underworld connection back to the Cylinder?

Yumi also tells them that she is hearing a call from something that is like Stahleno from down there. She admits that she is an android, not a robot please. Her people are descended from the war machines that the Erisans used in their ancient war with Mars.

Eris was a planet farther out than Mars. The Erisans were not numerous and used android servitors to populate their army. They fought with Mars hundreds of years ago. During the course of the war, the android army began to become self aware and broke with their masters. Eris was destroyed by some horrible Martian weapon and today its remnants are the Ring of Smoke/Asteroid Belt. Stahleno is an example of an Erisan weapon system, and she is picking up signals from more like her down that shaft.

They can explore the horizontal tunnel where they guess the Sky Ship mentioned in the blockhouse notes is.

Mon Dec 31, 2018 2:07 am

cinabro

Red Cap

Joined: Fri May 26, 2006 7:00 amPosts: 210

Re: The Marnor Campaign

And that is a wrap on that campaign due to real world concerns. Over the holiday break I had time to review. First the characters and players.

15 characters, 10 players, 80 sessions, 29 Adventures:

1) Gerag, Monk from Level 1->6 in 80 sessions. Played by Greenbadge. Survived 2) Middlin, Fighter from Level 1->2 in 4 sessions. Played by Seth. Retired due to insanity 3) Morir, Rogue from Level 1->2 in 2 sessions. Played by Aaron. Retired for a new career 4) Sansa, Cleric from Level 1->5 in 54 sessions. Played by Renee. Retired to rule Port Greely/Tenarath 5) Tania, Wizard from Level 1->2 in 4 sessions. Played by Jessica. Retired due to fear 6) Ekkie, Rogue from Level 1->7 in 77 sessions. Played by NPC->Racheal->NPC. Survived 7) Odhran, Bard from Level 2->4 in 26 sessions. Played by Roger. Disappeared, declared dead 8) Wulfgar, Fighter from Level 4->5 in 58 sessions. Played by Bill->NPC. Retired to rule Eryx 9) Salvore, Witch Hunter from Level 4->6 in 34 sessions. Played by Roger. Retired for a new career10) Bedwyr, Fighter from Level 1->3 in 12 sessions. Played by NPC. Left behind in a dungeon 11) Minus, Spellsword from Lavel 2->4 in 45 sessions. Played by NPC->Kolja->NPC. Survived 12) Yumemi, Star Knight at Level 5 in 28 sessions. Played by Renee. Survived 13) Horat, Scientist at Level 5 in 19 sessions. Played by Roger. Survived 14) Lidzira, Illusionist at Level 5 in 11 sessions. Played by NPC. Survived 15) Thonar, Cleric at Level 5 in 11 sessions. Played by James. Survived

27 Levels were earned, an average of about 1 per 3 sessions or 1 per 1 adventure. Level progression does slow down a bunch after level 5.

Freeport was The Freeport Trilogy (Death, Terror, Madness)****, Freeport City of Adventure*****, Freeport Companion*****, Tales of Freeport *****. I really found Freeport to be an excellent setting.

Rocket Age from Cubicle 7, Space 1889 from GDW, and Dragon Star from Fantasy Flight were influential. Spelljammer and Hackjammer were mined for ideas.

12 are excellent, 14 very good, 3 good. A Pound of Flesh gave us a great deal of excellent play. We did two smaller mega-dungeons (Beneath the Ruins and Firestorm Peak); both are excellent. The two North Wind Adventures are quite good giving lots of excellent sessions. The Rock of Bral is excellent. The Purple Planet is fun, but very deadly and the party wanted out of there as soon as possible.

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